Two granted bail in alleged $1.6m FRA tender case

Two men charged in connection with an alleged $1.6 million tender scam were granted bail by the Suva Magistrates Court yesterday.

Ripon Baral is charged by the Fiji Independent Commission Against Corruption (FICAC) with one count of abuse of office, while Ravnil Chand faces one count of bribery.

It is alleged that between October 5, 2017, and January 15, 2018, Baral, while employed as manager project control at the Fiji Roads Authority (FRA), failed to declare a conflict of interest in the awarding of an FRA contract to Lomanitoba Company Limited, of which Chand is a director.

It is further alleged that between January 4, 2017, and January 15, 2018, Chand, in his capacity as director of Lomanitoba Company Limited, offered Baral $1.6 million as an inducement or reward for Baral performing an act in his official capacity at the FRA. The court heard Baral was also a director of Usha Investment Pte Limited at the time.

The two appeared before Resident Magistrate Charles Ratakele.

FICAC prosecutor Josann Pene told the court that first-phase disclosures had been served on both accused. While the prosecution did not object to bail, it sought strict conditions given the seriousness of the charges.

Resident Magistrate Ratakele granted bail to both accused on a non-cash bond of $5,000 each. Conditions include attending court as required, not reoffending while on bail, not changing residential addresses without court approval, surrendering passports and remaining in the country.

The magistrate also ordered that if the accused persons’ passports have expired, they are not to apply for new passports.

Each accused presented two sureties, which were accepted by the court.

The matter has been adjourned to January 30, 2026, for mention to check on second-phase disclosures.

Baral and Chand are represented by Hemendra Nagin, while Pene appeared for the commission.