Former Manager at Immigration Department jailed for 4 years

The former Passport and Citizenship Manager with the Department of Immigration received a sentence of 4 years in the Suva Magistrates Court today.

Kalisi Sakiusa was charged by FICAC with one count each of Conspiracy to Influence Public Officials and Abuse of Office in 2016.

In his sentence, Magistrate Jioji Boseiwaqa said the aggravating feature of the offending was that Sakiusa, as a Senior Immigration Officer, had a duty to maintain and protect the integrity of the immigration system.

He further stated that the offender breached his duty to protect Fiji’s borders and that a custodial sentence must be imposed as a deterrent to future offenders.

Sakiusa admitted to producing and issuing two Fiji passports to two Chinese nationals even though they failed to meet the key requirements to be eligible to Fijian citizenship – such as being legally present in Fiji for five out of 10 years.

He had initially denied the offences but he changed his plea before his trial commenced.

Sakiusa must serve 12 months in prison before any early release by the Fiji Corrections Service.