The High Court in Suva has overturned a seven-year prison sentence initially handed to businessman Shalendra Kumar for obtaining a financial advantage dishonestly and attempting to interfere with justice. Kumar was sentenced on February 19, 2024, after being found guilty of colluding with employees from the Public Works Department (PWD) to misappropriate $34,236.77 between January 1 and May 31, 2010.
In his appeal, Kumar’s legal representation, led by lawyer Mohammed Saneem, successfully argued for a reduction in his sentence. Although the court upheld the conviction, Justice Dane Tuiqereqere sentenced him to two and a half years with a minimum non-parole period of one year and ten months. The revised sentence will begin from February 19, 2024.
This case highlights ongoing efforts within Fiji’s judicial system to maintain accountability and combat corruption among business owners and public servants. Similar to the recent case of Rahul Ravikash Kumar, a former employee of the Ministry of Education who received a seven-year sentence for numerous corruption charges, the government’s actions reveal a commitment to addressing fraudulent activities that undermine public trust.
The appeal’s outcome for Kumar, while reducing his sentence, still emphasizes the necessity of ethical conduct in business dealings with government entities. As the government continues to enforce stricter regulations against corruption, it sets a precedent for future cases and strengthens the call for transparency and integrity within public services.
These evolving legal approaches indicate a hopeful trend toward improved governance and enhanced confidence in Fiji’s public institutions, fostering an environment where accountability is prioritized and wrongdoing is addressed firmly.
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