The Lautoka Magistrates Court has decided that a father and son duo facing corruption-related charges will have to respond to the allegations against them. Resident Magistrate Timoci Qaliniuci announced this ruling, concluding that the Fiji Independent Commission Against Corruption (FICAC) successfully established a prima facie case against the first defendant, Ronald Narayan. He is charged with four counts of Abuse of Office and one count of Obtaining a Financial Advantage.
Ronald’s father, Sat Narayan, has also been implicated, with a case to answer on one count of Obtaining a Financial Advantage. The allegations against Ronald Narayan state that between September 1, 2016, and October 31, 2017, while serving as an Executive Officer at the Ministry of Health, he facilitated the awarding of ministry contracts for projects at several health facilities to Brink Home Builders, a company owned by his father.
The prosecution claims that these actions resulted in a financial advantage totalling $101,041.12. Evidence presented in court indicated that Ronald Narayan had engaged in requesting quotes and had participated in tender evaluations for these projects, all while failing to disclose his interest in Brink Home Builders.
The court learned that payments were made to the company, and Ronald Narayan also procured materials on its behalf. In his ruling, Magistrate Qaliniuci emphasized that during this no-case-to-answer phase, the court must evaluate the evidence objectively, without taking into account the credibility of witnesses or the weight of that evidence. He concluded that the evidence presented sufficiently addressed the key components of the charges.
The case has been slated for mention again on February 9, 2026, with the defense hearing set to commence on February 13, 2026. This ruling highlights the ongoing efforts to ensure accountability in public service and reinforces the importance of ethical conduct in government roles.
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