Lawyer charged by FICAC for allegedly impersonating Brigadier General Aziz

A recently admitted lawyer has been charged by the Fiji Independent Commission Against Corruption for impersonation and deception after he allegedly impersonated senior officer of the Republic of Fiji Military Forces, Brigadier General Mohammed Aziz.

Mohammed Sharif appeared before the Magistrates Court of the Anti Corruption Division in Lautoka after being charged with one count of Personating A Public Officer and one count of Obtaining A Financial Advantage By Deception.

For the count of Personating A Public Officer, it is alleged between 1st January 2020 and 30th December 2020 in the Western Division, Mohammed Sharif falsely represented himself to be Brigadier General Aziz and assumed to do acts by virtue of being the said Brigadier General Aziz.

On the count of Obtaining A Financial Advantage By Deception, it is alleged between 1st January 2020 and 30th December 2020 in the Western Division, Mohammed Sharif by deception dishonestly obtained $118,350 from an international businessman by falsely representing himself to be Brigadier General Aziz.

Investigations were launched by FICAC in which it was revealed that Sharif allegedly contacted an international businessman who owns an import and export business and informed the businessman that he needs seeds to which Sharif was invited to the businessman’s farm in the Western Division.

It is alleged Sharif then introduced himself to the businessman and the workers at the farm as Brigadier General Aziz, second-in-charge at the RFMF and legal adviser to the Prime Minister.

Investigations by FICAC further alleged that Mohammed Sharif by deception dishonestly obtained large sums of money which were paid by the international businessman.

FICAC State Counsel, Darren Hickes informed the court today that the first phase of disclosures has been served.

Defence Counsel, Filimoni Daveta applied for name suppression in Court for the accused to which the FICAC State Counsel objected to the application made.

Resident Magistrate Hemantha refused the application put forth by the Defence Counsel.

FICAC will file an affidavit in opposition to bail on Thursday 23rd December 2021.

The bail ruling will be made on Wednesday 29th December 2021.

Mohammed Sharif has been remanded at the Natabua Remand Centre.

Meanwhile FICAC believes that there may have been other members of the public who may have fallen victim to this scam by the accused or have been scammed by anyone in a similar way. People are urged to contact FICAC and lodge their complaint on 1322.