Witness says $6,540 in Lagi case stemmed from friendship, not bribery

A key defence witness in the bribery case against suspended senior police officer George Lagi has maintained that the $6,540.14 sent to him between 2012 and 2024 was given out of goodwill and was not a bribe.

The defence presented its case before Resident Magistrate Shageeth Somaratne at the Suva Magistrate Court today after the court rejected its no-case-to-answer submission.

The Fiji Independent Commission Against Corruption (FICAC) charged Lagi, the suspended deputy director of Strategic Planning for the Fiji Police Force, with receiving bribes.

During cross-examination, witness Divindra Bhagat told the court he met Lagi at Police Headquarters in 2012.

He said he had accompanied his sister, who wanted to file a complaint with Police about a vehicle that was part of a family estate.

Bhagat said his sister handled the discussions and he was not involved in talks about the vehicle, which was held by Police.

When questioned by FICAC lawyer Tina Nakorolevu, Bhagat said he gave Lagi money because of their newly formed friendship.

He said Lagi did not know about the money until Bhagat contacted him to collect it from Western Union.

Bhagat said Lagi was not the only friend he gave money to and that he continued giving him money afterwards.

He told the court that the $300 sent to Lagi on April 14, 2013, was an award for the release of the vehicle.

However, he said he did not know when the vehicle was released and that the money was intended to help Lagi prepare his tickets and immigration paperwork to join them overseas.

The court questioned Bhagat about whether Lagi had at any point informed him that the transactions could create a conflict of interest.

Bhagat said Lagi had mentioned the issue but maintained the transactions were made out of goodwill and were not bribes.

There was no further examination by Defence lawyer Joji Cakau. The matter was adjourned to September 9 for judgment.