Two former employees of the i-Taukei Land Trust Board (TLTB) appeared in the Labasa Magistrates Court yesterday along with two other individuals facing corruption-related charges.
Former TLTB Manager North, Josaia Waqairatu, and former Senior Estate Officer, Nemani Tamani, are both charged by the Fiji Independent Commission Against Corruption (FICAC) with one count of Abuse of Office each.
Waqairatu is alleged to have, between 1 September 2016 and 31 September 2016, processed and approved a land lease application file without adhering to the relevant policies and procedures, an act that prejudiced the rights of the relevant Landowning Unit and TLTB.
Tamani is alleged to have, between 1 January 2018 and 31 December 2019, canceled a land lease application for the same file without following the appropriate policies and procedures.
Also appearing in court were Mocevou Rakabikabi, charged with 12 counts of Obtaining a Financial Advantage, and Varun Chand, facing three counts of Obtaining a Financial Advantage.
Rakabikabi is accused of purporting to sell a piece of land he did not own in Salusalu Street, Namara, between 1 June 2018 and 2 August 2019, obtaining a financial advantage of $60,000.
Chand is alleged to have, between 1 November 2019 and 30 November 2019, purported to sell a piece of land in Salusalu Street, Namara to two individuals, obtaining a financial advantage of $28,000.
All the accused were granted bail of $1000 each with strict conditions. They have been ordered to produce a surety each, reside at a fixed residential address, not interfere with State witnesses, and report to their nearest police station or FICAC office once a month.
The matter has been adjourned to 2 October for mention.