TLTB Employees, Businessman On Bribery Charge Front Court
They were charged by the Fiji Independent Commission Against Corruption (FICAC) with four counts of Bribery under the Prevention of Bribery Act.
Wednesday 02 December 2020 | 23:11
iTaukei Land Trust Board staff member Kelepi Ratule outside the Labasa Magistrate Court on December 2, 2020. Photo: Laisa Lui
Two senior staff members from the iTaukei Land Trust Board (TLTB) and a businessman charged with numerous counts of bribery, appeared at the Labasa Magistrates Court yesterday.
TLTB senior estate officer Nemani Tamani, legal officer Kelepi Ratule and businessman Varun Anand appeared before Magistrate Senileba Levaci.
They were charged by the Fiji Independent Commission Against Corruption (FICAC) with four counts of Bribery under the Prevention of Bribery Act.
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Tamani has been alleged to have asked for $16,000 and accepted $16,500 as bribes from his co-accused, Anand on two occasions between October and November 2019, while serving as the acting regional manager north for TLTB.
Similarly, Ratule was also charged with four counts of bribery for allegedly asking for advantages amounting to $3200 and accepting $2850 in bribes between November 2019 and January 2020.
Anand faces four counts of bribery for offering these advantages to the public servants in order to influence the performance of their duties in their capacity as public servants. FICAC senior state Counsel Sam Savumiramira informed the court that first phase disclosures were served.
The three were released on bail on the sum of $800 each after there produced one surety each. They were represented by private lawyer Amrit Sen.
They have been instructed by Magistrate Levaci not to interfere with prosecution witnesses, to surrender their travel documents and to report to the FICAC office in Labasa once a month.
The matter was adjourned to February 15, 2021, for mention.
Edited by Jonathan Bryce
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