The trial of seven former workers of Public Works Department has started in the Suva High Court.
They are jointly charged with 10 counts of abuse of office, 35 counts of causing a loss and two counts of obtaining a financial advantage.
Ana Laqere, Tavenisa Tavaga, Amelia Vunisea, Laisa Halafi Vaciseva Lagai, Vilisi Tuitavuki and Kiniviliame Taviraki are the former workers of the PWD.
Shalveen Narayan who is the Director of a Company has also been jointly charged with the seven and has already pleaded guilty to his charges and awaiting sentencing.
The alleged incidents took place between 11th March and 31st August in 2010.
While opening FICAC’s case, Senior Counsel, Rashmi Aslam told the five assessors that this is a case where a group of civil servants who were working for the then PWD in Walu Bay, Suva colluded and raised falsified purchase orders.
Aslam told the court that nothing was purchased but three companies received money and a portion of that money went to Halafi’s bank account.
Aslam told the assessors that three companies received approximately $362,942 while $65,000 went directly into Halafi’s bank account.
He says they do not know what happened to the money.
Aslam told the court that there was great teamwork in the alleged incident as it’s not easy for one person to raise falsified orders as there are stringent measures.
FICAC is expected to produce 20 witnesses and the trial will last over a month before High Court Judge, Justice Thushara Rajasinghe.
