News

Senior Police Officer Convicted of Bribery

Posted by Media Team 25 September 2026

The Suva Magistrates Court has found Senior Police Officer George Lagi guilty of one count of Bribery.

The charges were brought by Fiji Independent Commission Against Corruption (FICAC).

It was alleged that between 1 October 2012 and 31 January 2014, while employed with the Criminal Investigations Department (CID), Mr Lagi accepted an advantage amounting to $6,580 from Mr Divindra Bhagat in connection with the performance of his official duties, namely the seizure of a vehicle and its ultimate release to the owner, who is Mr Bhagat’s sister.

In delivering the judgment, Resident Magistrate Shageeth Somaratne found that the Prosecution had established all the essential elements of the offence, namely that:

a. the accused was a public servant;

b. the accused acted without lawful authority or reasonable excuse;

c. the accused accepted an advantage; and

d. the advantage was accepted on account of the performance of his duties in his capacity as a public servant.

In considering the totality of the evidence, including the nature and origin of the relationship between Mr Lagi and Mr Bhagat, Mr Lagi’s involvement in matters concerning the disputed vehicle, the substantial sums received during the relevant period, and the close proximity of the payments to the seizure and subsequent release of the vehicle, the Court found that the payments were not merely incidental to a personal friendship.

The Court further found that the evidence established a clear and sufficient nexus between the advantages received by Mr Lagi and the discharge of his official functions as a public officer.

Accordingly, the Court found that the Prosecution had proved all the essential elements of the offence beyond reasonable doubt and convicted Mr Lagi of the charge.

Mr Lagi has been granted 28 days within which to appeal.

The matter has been adjourned to 8 October 2026 for further orders.