The Chairman of the Council of Rotuma Tarterani Rigamoto and two other people who have been charged by FICAC with corruption related offences have been given leave to travel to Rotuma.
Chief Magistrate Usaia Ratuvili gave the order this morning saying all three have to surrender their passports and a stop departure order will also be issued.
He says the pre-trial matters will be dealt in the Suva Magistrates Court which will be called on the 23rd of this month.
Rigamoto is facing a count each of abuse of office and giving information derived from false documents.
Sainimeli Tivao is charged with aiding and abetting while Peniamino Tavo is charged with giving false information.
It is alleged that between the 1st of June 2016 and 31st of March 2017 in Rotuma, Rigamoto caused the investment of the Council of Rotuma with Fijian Holdings Unit Trust to be the security for Rotuma Export and Marketing Company Limited or REMCOL loan in the sum of $250,000 without the approval of the Council of Rotuma.
Rigamoto also allegedly gave false information to Merchant Finance Limited that the Council of Rotuma had unanimously agreed to support REMCOL in their application for financial assistance and to be the Guarantor of REMCOL loan in the amount of $250,000.
Sainimeli Tivao is alleged to have aided and abetted Rigamoto in giving false information to Merchant Finance Limited that the Council of Rotuma had unanimously agreed to support REMCOL in their application for financial assistance and to be the Guarantor of REMCOL loan in the amount of $250,000.00.
Penamino Tavo allegedly gave information to the Rotuma Council in its 4th quarterly Council meeting that the REMCOL has production earnings in the sum of $33,000 which he knew to be false or misleading.
