Nadi businessman and customs officer jailed

A Nadi businessman and a customs officer found guilty of bribery by the Lautoka High Court were today handed partial prison sentences with a $2,000 fine imposed on the two.

The court heard that in August 2009, Furquan Rizvi paid Lautoka customs officer Joseva Utovou a bribe of $200 to abstain from performing the examination of a container of spare parts for auto-vehicles.
 
Rizvi has been sentenced to 22 months imprisonment however he will serve 10 months in prison while his remaining sentence of 12 months has been suspended for three years.

Utovou has been sentenced to 18 months imprisonment out of which he will serve 6 months in prison while the remaining sentence of 12 months has been suspended for three years.


Story by: Praneeta Prakash