One of four former employees of the Nasinu Town Council, who are accused of defrauding the council of over $370,000, has agreed to become a State witness. Pauliasi Bainivalu appeared before Justice Usaia Ratuvili in the High Court in Suva yesterday. His co-accused—Eliki Bula, Shiu Raman, and Razia Bibi—did not attend the hearing due to a lack of awareness about the scheduled proceedings.
Josanne Pene, a prosecutor from the Fiji Independent Commission Against Corruption, informed the court that amended charges had been filed and served to all parties involved. Mr. Bainivalu’s lawyer requested a month to review the updated information.
Bainivalu and Bula, both employed as IT officers with the council, face charges related to alleged misconduct that took place between 2014 and 2019. It is claimed that Bainivalu solicited $116,177 and accepted $57,427.40 in bribes from multiple companies during that time, while Bula allegedly solicited $1,000 from an employee of Innovation Technology Pte, a service provider to the council, in 2014.
In addition to the two, Innovation Technology employees Shiu Raman and Razia Bibi are also charged. Raman faces multiple charges, including conspiracy to defraud, obtaining a gain, bribery, and destroying evidence. Bibi, a company director, is charged with aiding and abetting bribery by allegedly offering $2,066 to Bainivalu.
The four accused are scheduled to appear in court again on October 7.