Senior police officer to stand trial in bribery case

A senior police officer accused of accepting more than $6,500 in bribes will stand trial after the Suva Magistrates Court dismissed a No Case to Answer application and ruled there was sufficient evidence for the matter to proceed.

George Lagi faces one count of bribery under the Crimes Act.

It is alleged that between October 1, 2012, and January 31, 2014, while employed as an officer with the Criminal Investigations Department (CID), he accepted an advantage of $6,580 from Divindra Bhagat in relation to the performance of his duties as a CID officer.

In a ruling delivered today, Resident Magistrate Shageeth Somaratne found that the prosecution had presented sufficient evidence upon which a properly directed tribunal of fact could convict if that evidence were accepted.

The court ruled that a prima facie case had been established and dismissed the defence’s No Case to Answer application.

However, Resident Magistrate Somaratne stressed that the ruling was not a finding of guilt and that the charge remains to be determined after the defence case has been heard.

The matter was adjourned to June 24, 2026, for mention.

Lagi was represented by Joji Cakau, while Fiji Independent Commission Against Corruption counsel Tina Narokolevu appeared for the prosecution.