Afrana Nisha, a former secretary of the Independent Legal Services Commission (ILSC), has been sentenced to five years in prison following her conviction on several corruption-related charges. The sentence, issued by Magistrate Shageeth Somaratne, includes a non-parole period of four years.
Nisha faced a total of ten charges, including seven counts of Falsification of Documents and two counts of Obtaining a Financial Advantage, during her trial. She was acquitted of one count related to obtaining financial gain. The court determined that between July 2012 and November 2014, Nisha had engaged in fraudulent activities by forging cheques signed by former Solicitor-General Sharvada Sharma and lawyer Ana Tuiketei.
The fraudulent activities included listing both herself and ILSC Commissioner Paul Madigan as payees in order to secure unauthorized financial benefits. Notably, one instance of her deceit involved a forged cheque for $3,450 made out to Ms. Tuiketei, which Nisha instructed an ILSC receptionist, Vandana Raj, to cash, returning the funds to her.
The prosecution was represented by Joshua Francis Prasad, while Nisha’s legal defense was provided by Ruth Fa from Iqbal and Associates.
This conviction highlights the ongoing efforts to uphold integrity within public service positions, sending a clear message that corruption will not be tolerated. While the case decorrelates a troubling episode of misconduct within the legal framework, it also serves as a reminder of the importance of accountability within government agencies.
Leave a comment