Panapasa granted bail

The former Acting Commissioner of Corrections, Salote Panapasa, has been granted bail.

She appeared before Resident Magistrate Krishan Prasad in the Suva Magistrates Court and is charged with two counts of Abuse of Office and an alternative count of General Dishonesty – Causing a Loss.

It is alleged that between the 1st of August 2023 and the 30th of September, Panapasa instructed Officers of the Fiji Corrections Service (FCS) to facilitate the use of building materials that were purchased by FCS for her private residence.

It is also alleged that between the 1st of August 2023 and the 31st of October 2023, Panapasa instructed the Officers of Fiji Corrections Service to alter the weekly report for the period of August 2023 to include paragraphs justifying the use of the Corrections Service building materials at her private residence.

State Counsel Lanieta More informed the Court that the first phase of disclosures has been served.

Resident Magistrate Krishan Prasad granted a non-cash bail of $5,000 and ordered Panapasa to not re-offend whilst on bail and not to interfere with prosecution witnesses with other strict bail conditions, including the surrender of all travel documents to the Court.

A Stop Departure Order has been issued to Panapasa, and she is to report to the Valelevu Police Station on the last working day of each month between 6am to 6pm.

The case will be called again on the 5th of July for second phase disclosures and election of the Court for trial.