Freesoul Real Estate Development Limited has been fined $1 million by the Suva High Court for two counts of undertaking unauthorized developments at Malolo Island in 2018.
The charges against Freesoul relate to the failure to comply with a Prohibition Notice issued by the Department of Environment in June 2018 and carrying out of resort development activity in Malolo without an approved Environmental Impact Assessment Report.
High Court Judge, Justice Daniel Goundar has also ordered Freesoul to post a refundable environmental bond of $1.4 million with the Department of Environment and rehabilitate the affected areas to the satisfaction of the Department at its own expenses.
He says once the affected areas have been rehabilitated to the satisfaction of the Department of Environment, the bond may be refunded to the offender.
He further says it is the matter for the Department of Environment to lift the prohibition notice that was issued to the offender on 1st June 2018.
