Two of the three individuals charged with defrauding over $70,000 from the Bank of South Pacific (BSP) are contesting their confessions made to their employers. Alexander Fong and Hirdesh Chand, together with Irfan Mohammed, are facing conspiracy to defraud charges in a case that has caught public attention.
The allegations suggest that Fong, who served as senior manager of support services at BSP, colluded with Chand and Mohammed to illegally sell bank-owned vehicles to external parties. This action allegedly contravened the BSP Group’s motor vehicle policy and resulted in significant financial losses for the bank between January 1, 2019, and December 31, 2021.
During a recent session in the Suva court, presided over by Magistrate Yogesh Prasad, state lawyer Pooja Mishra indicated that the prosecution would rely on the confessions of Fong and an affidavit from Mohammed. However, both men dispute these confessions, claiming they were obtained through false promises and coercion.
Additionally, Fong has sought to change his legal representation to Jiten Reddy lawyers, the same firm representing Mohammed. The magistrate highlighted that due to potential conflicting testimonies, Reddy cannot represent both defendants simultaneously. He advised Fong to carefully reconsider this decision, emphasizing that any last-minute changes should not delay the trial’s progress.
The case, which is scheduled to begin trial on August 5, has been adjourned until July 3 for further proceedings. The upcoming trial will be closely monitored as it highlights issues of corporate governance and accountability within financial institutions.
The outcome of this case may lead to greater awareness and preventive measures against such fraudulent activities in the future, promoting a culture of integrity within financial practices.
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