Former Nasinu Town clerk sentenced to 12 months

Former Nasinu Town Council clerk, Jaswant Kumar has been sentenced to twelve months imprisonment effective immediately after being found guilty of abuse of office.

High Court Judge, Justice Daniel Goundar while making his ruling this afternoon told Kumar that taking into account the position he held as Manager Finance and Acting Town Clerk, he held a position of authority where people looked up to him knowing that he was doing his job in a transparent and accountable manner.

Justice Goundar also said that the submission from Kumar's lawyer, Rajendra Chaudhry who said that Kumar was a first offender and that he was also supporting his wife and two children as well as his ageing mother and two nieces, was convincing however the fact of the matter was that the Kumar knew what he was doing when he had raised the cheque amounting to $2,344.42.

While making his ruling, Justice Goundar said that back in 2006, Kumar had written the cheque seeking the signature and endorsement of the Mayor, who had no idea what the cheque was really for.

Justice Goundar said that Kumar in denying the charge of abuse of office for gain, exposed others to prosecution.

He also said that an important point was that there was no identity of the person who had picked up the cheque and there was no supporting paperwork or supporting vouchers for the cheque to be written.