Ex-provincial treasurer jailed for fraud offences

A former assistant provincial treasurer of the Kadavu Provincial Council has been sentenced to 13 months’ imprisonment by the Suva Magistrate Court.

Suliasi Lau was convicted on seven counts of obtaining a financial advantage and four counts of falsification of documents following charges laid by the Fiji Independent Commission Against Corruption.

Lau appeared before Magistrate Josaia Waqaivolavola earlier this week, where the court heard that between June 1 and July 31, 2019, he collected provincial levy payments from four villages in Kadavu but failed to deposit the money into the Kadavu Provincial Council account.

The court also heard Lau unlawfully took allowances belonging to three village headmen, also known as turaga-ni-koro (village headman).

In total, Lau wrongfully obtained $5780.

On the falsification charges, the court found he forged the signatures of the three village headmen on council payment vouchers to dishonestly claim their allowances.

While delivering sentence, Magistrate Waqaivolavola said Lau’s actions denied hardworking village headmen money they were entitled to and affected villagers who relied on those funds.

The magistrate said the court understood the difficulties faced by the village headmen after their allowances were delayed because of Lau’s conduct.

He added that while courts usually tried to avoid jail terms for young and first-time offenders, imprisonment was necessary to serve as a warning to Lau and others who may commit similar offences.

Lau has been given 28 days to appeal his sentence.

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