Former school manager jailed over misuse of Free Education Grant

A former Nakorotubu District School manager has been sentenced to two years' imprisonment after being convicted of misusing $3,700 from the school's Free Education Grant (FEG) account.

Kelevi Salauca was sentenced by Resident Magistrate Timoci Qalinauci at the Rakiraki Magistrates Court after being convicted on June 29, 2026, of one count of obtaining a financial advantage.

The charge relates to four cheques totalling $3,700 that were signed and cashed from the school's Free Education Grant account between December 1 and 31, 2017.

The court found that Mr Salauca failed to comply with procedures governing the use of Free Education Grant funds.

The withdrawals were made without the approval of the School Management Committee and without the required quotations.

The court also found that Mr Salauca was solely responsible for handling the four cheques.

In sentencing, Resident Magistrate Qalinauci noted that the offence carries a maximum penalty of 10 years' imprisonment.

The court took into account that Mr Salauca was a first-time offender, the partial admissions he had made and the fact that the matter had remained before the court for almost five years.

Mr Salauca was ordered to serve 15 months in custody, with the remaining nine months suspended for three years.

Mr Salauca was represented by the Legal Aid Commission, while the prosecution was conducted by Fiji Independent Commission Against Corruption State Counsel Lavenia Ravuikadavu and Immanuel Turaga.