A businessman and five former employees of the Public Works Department have been given another date as four of the accused who are serving prison terms were not present in court yesterday.

The former PWD employees are Asenaca Manuapa Kanaivalu and prisoners Laisa Halafi, Vaciseva Lagai, Amelia Vunisea and Ana Laqere.

They are charged alongside businessman Jaswant Kumar who is the Director of Kumar’s Hardware Supplies.

The matter was called before Magistrate Kashyapa Wickramasekara.

Fiji Independent Commission Against Corruption counsel Sanjana Datt has asked the court to serve a production order for the accused who were serving prison terms as they were not present in court.

Kumar, Halafi, Kanaivalu, Lagai, Vunisea and Laqere are charged with conspiracy to commit a felony.

It is alleged that between August 1 to December 31, 2009 all the accused conspired together to commit a felony with intent to defraud PWD and obtain $10,268.74 as payments for the Purchase Orders that had been previously paid to Kumar’s Hardware Supplies.

Halafi, Kanaivalu, Lagai, Vunisea and Laqere are also charged with a count each of abuse of office.

It is alleged that all the accused facilitated the process of false payments to Kumar’s Hardware Supplies amounting to $10,268.74.

Kumar, Vunisea and Laqere are further charged with conspiracy to defraud – causing a loss.

It is alleged that between July 1 to 31, 2010, Kumar, Vunisea and Laqere conspired with intent to defraud PWD, dishonestly causing a loss of $5,760.82 to be made to Kumar’s Hardware Supplies as payments for the Purchase Orders that have been paid to Phoenix Hardware, and Engineer and General Supplies.

Vunisea and Laqere are charged with a count each of abuse of office and causing a loss and Kumar is charged with obtaining a financial advantage.

The case has been adjourned to June 26, for mention.

Edited by Rusiate Mataika

jessica.gounder@fijisun.com.fj