Police officer and former bank officer charged in $233,000 money laundering case

A police officer and former bank officer appeared in the $233,230.27 money laundering case in the Suva Magistrates Court this afternoon.

They both have been granted bail on conditions of not to re-offend, two sureties each, a non-cash bond of $5,000 each, they are not allowed to change their address, they have to surrender their passport to the court, they cannot interfere with the witnesses and a stop departure has been issued against them.

Sofia Khan a former reconciliation officer at the ANZ Bank is charged with 8 counts of fraudulent falsification of accounts and eight counts of money laundering while Jean Baleinabuli, a police officer, is charged with 20 counts of money laundering.

It is alleged that between 2nd May 2022 and 13th February 2023, Sofia Khan fraudulently falsified multiple accounts and stole $233,230.27 from ANZ which she laundered into her defacto partner, Jean Baleinabuli’s ANZ account.

The two then allegedly used the money to build and upgrade two houses in Nausori.

The case has been adjourned to 18th July.