Matawalu In Court For Allegedly Creating Fake Loan Accounts
The bank conducted an internal investigation, whereby it was discovered that the accused had created the accounts and approved the loans.
Thursday 18 May 2023 | 08:55
The Criminal Investigation Department’s Economic Crime Unit has charged a 31-year-old man with nine counts of obtaining financial advantage by deception for allegedly creating fake loan accounts while employed as a lending officer.
The accused, Misaele Matawalu, is alleged to have created loan accounts for three of his family members without their knowledge and conducted nine transactions into their accounts of over $29,000 which was applied through a loan without proper documentation.
The offences took place between November 2021 and May 2022.
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The transactions were discovered when the bank noticed arrears in payments on the three accounts.
The bank conducted an internal investigation, whereby it was discovered that the accused had created the accounts and approved the loans.
He appeared at the Magistrates Court in Nausori yesterday.
Matawalu has been released on bail in the sum of $500.
He has been ordered not to interfere with prosecution witnesses.
He was also ordered to surrender his travel documents and a stop departure order has been issued by the court.
The matter will be called for mention on June 16.
Story by: ashna.kumar@fijisun.com.fj
