The Suva High Court has ordered the forfeiture of FJD $52,312.24—determined to be tainted property—from the bank account of former Republic of Fiji Military Forces (RFMF) officer Mr. Ledua Biuvuli Matai and forfeited to the State.
The judgment was delivered this morning by Hon. Justice Chaitanya Lakshman in the case of FICAC vs Ledua Biuvuli Matai & Ors.
FICAC was represented by Principal State Counsel, Ms. Lilian Mausio, while the 1st and 3rd Defendants were represented by Mr. Simione Drole.
The 2nd Defendant was unrepresented.
FICAC had filed an Originating Summons seeking a declaration that the funds in Mr. Matai’s account were proceeds of crime and should be forfeited to the State.
FICAC also sought an order requiring Mr. Matai to repay an equivalent amount to what he allegedly misappropriated.
It was alleged that between November 2019 and June 2022, the 1st Defendant facilitated 76 fraudulent payments totalling FJD $467,616.41 from RFMF to a company named Ink Escape Supplies.
This company was set up by Mr. Matai with his former daughter in law (2nd Defendant) and wife (3rd Defendant) listed as the company directors.
Mr. Matai also did not disclose the fact that he had a conflict of interest in the company to the RFMF.
In his ruling, Justice Lakshman noted that FICAC’s Affidavit in Support remained uncontested by the 1st and 2nd Defendants.
He concluded that, on the balance of probabilities, the FJD $52,312.24 in Mr. Matai’s account constituted tainted property and ordered it forfeited to the State.
“The forfeited monies are to be paid into the Forfeited Assets Fund,” Justice Lakshman stated.
The 1st and 3rd Defendants are also facing criminal charges related to this matter before the Suva Magistrates’ Court.