Magistrate Shageeth Somaratne has complied with the High Court’s judgment and has transferred the case of former Acting Deputy Official Receiver Viliame Katia to the High Court for sentencing.
Katia was convicted after he pleaded guilty to three counts of abuse of office for gain, four counts of forgery, one count of embezzlement, one count of giving false information to a public servant, one count of unauthorized modification of data and one count of obtaining financial advantage.
The total amount involved was $4.1 million.
Katia was later sentenced by the Magistrates Court to 14‑years imprisonment in 2017 which FICAC had appealed against.
After a hearing Judge Justice Salesi Temo ruled in favor of FICAC and had ordered that the case be transferred back to the Magistrate who had sentenced Katia, to read the High Court Judgment and accordingly transfer the case to the High Court for sentencing.
Katia has been remanded and the case has been adjourned to the 20th of this month to ensure that the orders have been complied with.
