A former Special Constable appeared at the Suva Magistrates Court yesterday charged with 90 counts of conspiracy to defraud – obtaining a gain and theft.

Kamal Kishore Mishra, 30, was remanded by Magistrate Waleen George because the allegations were a serious breach of trust of the taxpayer’s money.

He is charged with 44 counts of conspiracy to defraud – obtaining a gain and 46 counts of theft. It is alleged that Mishra between February 18 and April 9, 2017 conspired to defraud the Fiji Police Force by using their fuel card to obtain money from a Service Station.

The alleged amount stolen is $3000, however, Police prosecutor Sergeant Mohammed Farook told the court that no money was recovered.

Sergeant Farook has served the first phase disclosures.

The case will be heard on July 21, for suitable sureties and to check if Mishra has any travelling documents.

Along with Mishra, five Service Station employees were also charged.

The employees charged are Esiteri Tapele, Kavinesh Prasad, Bimlesh Prasad Maharaj, Aniesh Roniesh Kumar and Kameli Volau.

Tapele, 24, is charged with 29 counts of conspiracy to defraud – obtaining a gain and 29 counts of theft.

The alleged offence happened between February 24 and April 9, 2017 and the alleged amount stolen is $1922.28.

She was further remanded till July 21 to present suitable sureties to the court.

Prasad, 26, is charged with three counts of conspiracy to defraud – obtaining a gain and three counts of theft.

The alleged offence occurred between March 15 and March 22, 2017 and the alleged amount stolen is $211.05.

Prasad’s lawyer Avinesh Reddy sought bail which was granted in the sum of $500 with two sureties who each signed a $500 surety bond.

The conditions were that Prasad is not to reoffend, not to interfere with the prosecution witnesses and to report to the Nabua Police Station every Saturday.

His case has been adjourned to August 22, for second phase disclosures.

Maharaj, 29, is charged with 15 counts of conspiracy to defraud – obtaining a gain and 15 counts of theft.

The alleged offence occurred between February 18 and March 12, 2017 and the alleged amount stolen is $926.85.

Bail was granted to Maharaj in the sum of $500 with two sureties who each signed a $500 surety bond.

He too was ordered not to reoffend while on bail, not to interfere with the prosecution witnesses and to report to the Valelevu Police Station every Saturday.

His case has been adjourned to August 22, for second phase disclosures.

Kumar, 30, is charged with 13 counts of conspiracy to defraud – obtaining a gain and two counts of theft.

The alleged offence occurred between February 18 and April 7, 2017 and the alleged amount stolen is $889.52.

Kumar has been remanded till July 21 to present suitable sureties to the court.

Volau, 42, is charged with eight counts of conspiracy to defraud – obtaining a gain and three counts of theft.

The alleged offence occurred between February 25 and April 1, 2017 and the alleged amount stolen is $556.02.

Volau has also been remanded till July 21 to present suitable sureties to court.

Edited by Caroline Ratucadra

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