The Fiji Police Force Serious Crime Unit is investigating tainted properties of two former Tappoos employees who are alleged to have stolen close to $121,000 from the company.

This was revealed in the Sigatoka Magistrate’s Court yesterday as the hearing for the pair’s bail applications were being held.

Moushmi, 35, and Avinesh Chand, 30, both of Sigatoka town charged for the unrelated offences and appeared before Magistrate Tomasi Bainivalu.

Each of them are facing 12 counts of falsification of documents and a further 12 counts of theft charges for the offences allegedly committed between January to May this year

The court had earlier heard that Police were still investigating other similar offences allegedly committed by the two accused between 2012 and 2016.

The pair are appearing in separate cases and are represented by Lautoka lawyer, Iqbal Khan.

In objecting to bail for both cases, Divisional Prosecuting Officer West, ASP Anil Prasad, said it was likely the pair would interfere with prosecution witnesses, who were mainly employees of Tappoos.

Under cross examination, Investigating Officer Detective Corporal Sunil Datt who objected to Mr Khan on his bail application, insisted the pair were flight risks.

Corporal Datt said he had come across similar cases before where the accused did not turn up at the next court date. He said this was a white collar crime and the charges were serious. Magistrate Tomasi Bainivalu will rule on the bail application this afternoon. 

Edited by Karalaini Waqanidrola

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