News

Suspended Sentence for Former FLP Candidate

Posted by Media Team 07 July 2026

A former Fiji Labour Party candidate has been sentenced to eight months' imprisonment, suspended for two years, after being convicted of an electoral offence by the Nausori Magistrates Court.

Ajay Nand was charged by the Fiji Independent Commission Against Corruption (FICAC) with one count of Prohibition on Use of State Resources to Campaign, contrary to Section 113(4) of the Electoral Act 2014.

The Court found that on or about 5 December 2022, Mr Nand conducted campaign activities and distributed Fiji Labour Party campaign flyers inside the Korovou Police Station, a public office and State resource.

Resident Magistrate Thomson Lee delivered the sentence on 25 June 2026, stating that, after considering all the evidence, the Court was satisfied that the prosecution had proven every element of the offence beyond reasonable doubt.

Resident Magistrate Lee noted that Mr Nand entered the Korovou Police Station, introduced himself as a former police officer who had held the rank of Inspector, and informed officers present that he was a Fiji Labour Party candidate.

The Court found that Mr Nand was in possession of campaign flyers and that his conduct, both directly and indirectly, amounted to campaigning within a police station, which constitutes the use of a State resource for campaign purposes.

The Court sentenced Mr Nand to eight months' imprisonment, suspended for a period of two years.

Pursuant to Section 151 of the Electoral Act 2014, Mr Nand's conviction also disqualifies him from being registered as a voter or voting in any election for a period of two years from the date of sentencing.

Both parties have 28 days from the date of sentencing to lodge an appeal.

Mr Nand was represented by Mr Amrit Chand.

The State was represented by FICAC Counsel Mr Immanuel Turaga.