Six women and two men who have been allegedly involved in corrupt dealings amounting to about $600,000 appeared in the Suva Magistrates Court yesterday.
Taniela Railala, Vaciseva Laqai, Tavenisa Tavaga, Ana Laqere, Laisa Halafi, Amelia Vunisa, Losalini Toroca, Sunil Raj who were employees of the Public Works Department, and Shelvin Narayan who is the Director of Phoenix Hardware Engineering and General Supplies Limited in Suva are charged with causing a loss and obtaining a financial advantage from PWD.
Only Raj was not present in court when FICAC brought the accused before Magistrate Chaitanya Latchman today.
FICAC charged the nine people but it is understood that FICAC is still trying to locate Sunil Raj.
The eight have chosen to apply for legal aid.
FICAC has served the first phase of disclosures to them.
All the accused have been bailed and will reappear on the 31st of October.
The plea will be taken on that day.
They have also signed a bail bond of $1,000 each.
Magistrate Latchman has given Railala, Laqai, Tavaqa, Laqere, Halafi, Vunisa, Toroca and Shelvin Narayan six weeks to prepare themselves and to get their lawyer.
The alleged incidents occurred between 2010 and 2011 where six payments were made totalling about $600,000 that caused the loss to PWD.
Story by: Vijay Narayan & Tokasa Rainima
