A couple appeared in the Suva Magistrate Court today facing serious charges of corruption related to approximately $500,000. Edua Biuvuli Matai, the former Principal Accounts Officer of the Republic of Fiji Military Forces, has been accused by the Fiji Independent Commission Against Corruption (FICAC) of abusing his office for personal gain. His wife, Taucilagi Duri, is charged with aiding and abetting in this abuse.
The allegations stem from a period between November 2019 and June 2022, during which Matai purportedly misused his authority by failing to disclose his personal interest in a business named Ink Escape Supplies, which was added as a vendor for the RFMF. This resulted in the facilitation of payments totaling $467,616.40 to the business, actions that were detrimental to the RFMF’s interests.
In court, Senior Magistrate Sufia Hamza stated that the couple would be remanded due to their inability to arrange sureties. The Magistrate requested that their lawyer secure sureties who are older and have authority over them. While FICAC did not oppose granting bail, they sought stringent conditions, such as a non-cash bond of $5,000, monthly reporting to FICAC, and the surrender of travel documents.
The case has been adjourned, with a bail hearing set for later today.
This situation serves as a reminder of the importance of accountability within public service. As the legal proceedings unfold, it is hoped that justice will be served, reaffirming that misconduct will not go unchecked in the pursuit of integrity within Fiji’s institutions.
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