Tribunal twist: Welfare officer defends volleyball fund use

The Tribunal Hearing took an interesting turn this morning with the Fiji Corrections Service Welfare officer, Vili Veikoso testifying that the Welfare and Sports Fund withdrawals to support the Wive's Association volleyball tournament and other purchases were not an abuse of office. 

Mr Veikoso was the first witness to take the stand during the fifth day of the tribunal hearing into the suspension of FCS Commissioner, Jalesi Nakarawa. 

In his account, Mr Veikoso said the withdrawals approved by Nakarawa to cater for the Wive's Volleyball Tournament were well within Clause 7. 3 of the Welfare and Sports Fund policy which stipulated that: - (iv) The benefits and assistance provided by the Fund include any sporting and social activity approved by the Commissioner of Corrections. 

He testified that all permanent officers had $10 deducted from their pay fortnightly and was equally distributed among the National Welfare Fund and the Divisional Fund. 

He explained that these funds were to cater for unexpected, social, and sports events for the officers and were never part of the government budget. 

Wives' volleyball tournament  

Mr Veikoso testified that although he didn't know that the interim president for the Wives Association was Ms Vakaloloma Nakarawa, some of the wives participating in these events were corrections officers. 

He confirmed that $6,869 was approved and withdrawn for the Wives Association on September 2, 2024. 

Drawer purchase 

In relation to the drawer, Mr Veikoso first stated in court that the purchase was inconsistent and could have been purchased by Mr Nakarawa himself. 

However, because the drawer was an FCS property; it was only natural to withdraw funds from there. 

Life insurance 

He testified that the change in life insurance source from Fiji Care to BSP Life, followed a series of complaints from officers about the product not being compatible with their general needs including inpatient cover and others. 

Mr Veikoso said after the insurance source was changed, they received good responses. 

He disagreed, however, with payments made for Mrs Nakarawa and the Assistant Commissioner's wife, Ms Namakadre’s trip to Ovalau. 

He said they were not corrections officers and only facilitated the payment on the orders of Mr Nakarawa. 

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