From left: Eseta Nagota, Joana Yabakidrau, Salote Waivure, Isoa Bukarau and Temo Tuilailai outside Magistrates Court on August 20, 2019. Photo: Ronald Kumar
Six more people appeared in the Magistrates Court in Suva yesterday facing charges in connection with the Fiji National Provident Fund fraud investigation.
They were granted bail.
Temo Tuilailai, 54, Metuisela Laba, 43, Eseta Roqoli Nacagilevu Nagota, 45, Isoa Bukarau, 47, Joana Yabakidrau, 46, and Salote Waivure, 45, appeared before Magistrate Jioji Boseiwaqa.
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The former employee of FNPF, Jack Edward Hiramatsu, 41, former clerk of iTaukei Land Trust Board, Adi Mara Rufina Qaranivalu, 32, who are charged along with the six other accused persons, did not appear in court as they were remanded in custody in another similar matter.
The eight accused persons are alleged to have colluded to use forged Certificate of Titles to withdraw approximately $118,000 from six of the accused persons FNPF accounts.
The charges:
Hiramatsu is charged with four counts of forgery.
Hiramatsu
It is alleged that Hiramatsu, between June 27, 2019, and July 19, 2019, at Suva, made a false certificate of title no. 29482, a false interim statement and understanding, a false letter to whom it may concern to FNPF and a false valuation report from Fairview Valuations, with intentions that he would dishonestly induce a public official to accept it as genuine and dishonestly obtain a gain.
Qaranivalu
Qaranivalu is charged with one count of forgery. It is alleged that Qaranivalu on June 11, 2019, at Suva, made a false certificate of title No. 29482, with the intention that another person, namely Jack Edward Hiramatsu, will use it to dishonestly induce a public official to accept it as genuine and dishonestly obtain a gain.
Tuilailai
Tuilailai is charged with one count of using forged documents. It is alleged that between June 27, 2019, and July 19, 2019, at Suva, knowing a document namely title no. 29482 is a false document, used the said document with intent to receive $59,000 as a withdrawal for housing assistance from FNPF.
Laba
Metuisela Laba outside Magistrates Court on August 20, 2019. Photo: Ronald Kumar
Laba is charged with one count of using forged documents. It is alleged on July 19, 2019, at Suva, knowing a document namely title No. 29482 is a false document, used the said document with intent to receive $16,400 as a withdrawal for housing assistance from FNPF.
Nagota
Nagota is charged with one count of using forged documents. It is alleged on July 19, 2019, at Suva, knowing a document namely title No. 29482 is a false document, used the said document with intent to receive $14,200 as a withdrawal for housing assistance from FNPF.
Bukarau
Bukarau is charged with one count of using forged documents. It is alleged on July 19, 2019, at Suva, knowing a document namely title No. 29482 is a false document, used the said document with intent to receive $11,600 as a withdrawal for housing assistance from FNPF.
Waivure
Waivure is charged with one count of using forged documents. It is alleged on July 19, 2019, at Suva, knowing a document namely title No. 29482 is a false document, used the said document with intent to receive $7800 as a withdrawal for housing assistance from FNPF.
Yabakidrau
Yabakidrau is charged with one count of using forged documents. It is alleged on July 19, 2019, at Suva, knowing a document namely title No. 29482 is a false document, used the said document with intent to receive $9000 as a withdrawal for housing assistance from FNPF.
Bail bond
Police prosecutor Sergeant Prathna Devi served the six accused persons, who were members of FNPF, with full phase disclosures.
She also sought for a production order to be issued for Hiramatsu and Qaranivalu.
Magistrate Boseiwaqa granted bail to the six accused persons on the bail bond sum of $300 each and sureties bond sum of $300 each.
He ordered the accused persons to report to their nearest Police Stations on the first Saturday of every month between 6 am and 6 pm.
Magistrate Boseiwaqa also ordered the accused persons to surrender their passports and travel documents and also issued a stop departure order on all of them.
The accused persons were ordered not to re-offend while on bail, not to interfere with any of the prosecution witnesses and reside at the fixed address given to the court.
The matter was adjourned to August 30 for mention.
Edited by Percy Kean
Feedback: ashna.kumar@fijisun.com.fj
