News

Four Men Appear in Court for Land Scam

Posted by Media Team 29 July 2024

Two former employees of the iTaukei Land Trust Board (TLTB) appeared in the Labasa Magistrates Court today alongside two other individuals for corruption-related charges.

Former TLTB Manager North, Josaia Waqairatu and former Senior Estate Officer, Nemani Tamani are being charged by the Fiji Independent Commission Against Corruption (FICAC) with One (1) Count each of Abuse of Office.

Mr Waqairatu is alleged to have, between 1 September 2016 and 31 September 2016, processed and approved the Application to Lease for a land file without following the relevant policies and procedures that applied to the processing and approval of such applications, which is an act prejudicial to the rights of the relevant Landowning Unit (LOU) and TLTB.

Mr Tamani is alleged to have, between 1 January 2018 and 31 December 2019 cancelled the Application to Lease for the said file without following the relevant policies and procedures that applied to the processing and approval of such applications.

Also appearing in Court today were Mocevou Rakabikabi, who is charged with Twelve (12) Counts of Obtaining a Financial Advantage and Varun Chand, who is facing Three (3) Counts of Obtaining A Financial Advantage.

Mr Rakabikabi is alleged to have, between 1 June 2018 and 2 August 2019 purported to sell a piece of land which he did not own in Salusalu Street, Namara to various individuals and obtained a financial advantage of $60,000.

Mr Chand is alleged to have, between 1 November 2019 and 30 November 2019, purported to sell a piece of land in Salusalu Street, Namara to two individuals and obtained a financial advantage of $28,000.

All the accused were granted bail today in the sum of $1000 each with strict bail conditions.

They have been ordered to produce a surety each, reside at a fixed residential address, must not interfere with State witnesses and report to their nearest police station or FICAC Office once a month.

The matter had been adjourned to 2 October 2024 for Mention to check on Second Phase Disclosure and Plea.