A former senior engineer at the Water Authority of Fiji, Mohammed Shafraaz Ali, has been sentenced to 18 months in prison for accepting a bribe in the form of a round-trip ticket to Sydney, Australia, valued at $1430.60. The offense occurred between March 1 and June 30, 2017, when Ali was employed as the Regional Engineer Bulk at the Water Authority.
The court found that the ticket, provided by Sphynx Solutions Pte Limited on March 21, 2017, was given to Ali as an advantage in return for actions he performed in his official capacity as a public servant. Throughout his tenure, Ali had made various requests for essential repair items for multiple water systems, leading to purchase orders being issued by Sphynx Solutions and ultimately resulting in the procurement of the requested items by the Authority.
In addition to his prison sentence, Ali has been fined $3,000, which he must pay by June 20, 2025. Failure to do so will result in an additional 300 days added to his sentence. The court granted Ali 28 days to file an appeal against his sentence or conviction.
This case is part of Fiji’s broader effort to tackle corruption and uphold ethical standards within public service, highlighting the importance of accountability among officials. The judiciary’s decisive action in this matter reinforces the commitment to integrity in governance.
As this case progresses, it reflects a hopeful trend towards eradicating corruption in Fiji, emphasizing the legal system’s role in maintaining public trust and accountability among public servants.
Leave a comment