News

Former Acting Commissioner of Corrections Charged by FICAC

Posted by Media Team 14 June 2024

The former Acting Commissioner of Corrections Ms Salote Panapasa has appeared at the Suva Magistrates this morning (Friday, 14 June 2024) charged by the Fiji Independent Commission Against Corruption (FICAC) with two (2) counts of Abuse of Office and an alternative count of General Dishonesty – Causing a Loss.

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

Its is also alleged between 1 August 2023 and 31 October 2023; Salote Panapasa instructed the Officers of Fiji Corrections Service (FCS) to alter the weekly report for the period of August 2023 to include paragraphs justifying the use of the FCS building materials at her private residence.

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

Resident Magistrate Mr. Krishan Prasad granted a non-cash bail of FJD$5,000 and ordered Panapasa to not re-offend whilst on bail, 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 Salote Panapasa and she is to report to the Valelevu Police Station on the last working day of each month between 6am to 6pm.

The matter has been adjourned to 5 July 2024 for second phase disclosures and election of Court for trial.