The Fiji Independent Commission Against Corruption (FICAC) has recently filed charges against Sanmogan Naidu, the former Principal of Ra High School, and Semi Voresara Nabalarua, Assistant Teacher of Agriculture, citing financial misconduct. Both individuals appeared before the Rakiraki Magistrates’ Court yesterday, where they faced allegations of misappropriating school funds.
Naidu has been charged with two counts of obtaining a financial advantage. He is accused of improperly securing $4,000 between July 1 and July 31, 2020, by authorizing payment vouchers from the school’s Free Education Grant (FEG) account, fully aware that he was not entitled to those funds. Furthermore, Naidu and Nabalarua are jointly charged with obtaining a financial advantage of $12,484.25 between June 1, 2019, and October 31, 2020, by preparing payment vouchers and cashing cheques from the Vocational Grant account, also knowing they lacked entitlement to the funds.
During the court proceedings, both accused were granted non-cash bail of $500 under stringent conditions, which include not re-offending, not interfering with prosecution witnesses, and promptly notifying the court of any changes in their residential address. The case has been adjourned, with a next hearing set for October 1, 2025.
This situation follows a series of corruption cases recently addressed by FICAC, emphasizing the organization’s commitment to combating corruption among civil servants. In similar recent cases, such as the investigation involving former civil servants linked to fraud schemes totaling hundreds of thousands of dollars, FICAC’s legal actions serve as a reminder of the importance of accountability and ethical conduct within public service.
While these developments reveal serious concerns, they also reflect a broader effort to reinforce integrity and transparency in Fiji’s educational and governmental institutions. The actions taken by FICAC send a strong message that financial misconduct will be scrutinized and addressed, potentially fostering a culture of accountability in the public sector.
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