A group of trustees, board members and officers of the People’s Community Network have appeared at the Magistrates Court in Suva charged with a series of alleged fraud offences.

Semiti Qalowasa, Reverend Akuila Yabaki, Father Kevin Barr, Cama Raimuria, Aisake Casimira, Suliana Siwatibau, Samuela Alivereti Saumatua, Mere Krishna, Chantelle Khan and Vijay Naidu of People’s Community Network (PCN) appeared before Magistrate Jioji Boseiwaqa yesterday.

The accused persons are charged by the Fijian Competition and Consumer Commission (FCCC) with one count each of accepting payments without being able to supply, of misleading conduct and of unconscionable conduct under the Fijian Competition and Consumer Commission Act 2010.

Defence lawyer Jitend Reddy told the court that the accused persons were served with summons on Monday night to appear in court yesterday morning.

The matter was adjourned for mention to September 12.

The charges:

n For the offence of accepting payments without being able to supply, it is alleged that Qalowasa, Yabaki, Barr, Raimuria, Casimira, Siwatibau, Saumatua, Krishna, Khan and Naidu, being trustees, board members and officers of PCN of Lot 36 Koroi Place, Samabula, did between October 28, 2015, and January 19, 2016, accepted payment in the total sum of $20,560, and failed to supply a three-bedroom unit to Virendra Kumar within reasonable time.

n For the offence of misleading conduct, it is alleged that Qalowasa, Yabaki, Barr, Raimuria, Casimira, Siwatibau, Saumatua, Krishna, Khan and Naidu, being trustees, board members and officers of PCN of Lot 36 Koroi Place, Samabula, did between October 28, 2015, and January 19, 2016, engaged in a conduct that was misleading by receiving $20,560, from Virendra Kumar to provide a three-bedroom unit at Lagilagi Housing Project and did not.

n For the offence of unconscionable conduct, it is alleged that Qalowasa, Yabaki, Barr, Raimuria, Siwatibau, Saumatua, Krishna, Khan and Naidu, being trustees, board members and officers of PCN of Lot 36 Koroi Place, Samabula, did between October 28, 2015, and January 19, 2016, for the supply of Lagilagi’s Housing Unit engaged in a conduct that was in all circumstances unconscionable by using unfair tactics against Virendra Kumar by issuing units to members of the public that did not qualify for the criteria under the PCN Lagilagi Housing Project.

Edited by Ranoba Baoa

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