Six former Public Works Department employees each charged for abuse of office have been found guilty for all the charges by the five assessors in the trial.
Ana Laqere was found guilty for one count of abuse of office and 35 counts of causing a loss. Amelia Vunisea was found guilty for one count of abuse of office and 34 counts of causing a loss. Laisa Halafi was found guilty of one count of abuse of office, 13 counts of causing a loss and one count of obtaining a financial advantage.
Vasiceva Lagai was found Guilty for one count of abuse of office and one counts of causing a loss.
Vasiti Tuitavuki was found guilty of 1 count of abuse of office and five counts of causing a loss.
Kiniviliame Taviraki was found guilty for one count of abuse of office and two counts of causing a loss.
High Court Judge Justice Thushara Rajasinghe will deliver his Judgement this Thursday.
It is alleged that the six in abuse of their office caused a loss to the PWD of a sum of $362,944.37 in 2010.
The former employees allegedly did arbitrary acts for the purpose of gain in facilitating the processing of false payments to be made to three companies namely, Ontime Stationery Supplies, Shavel Stationery Supplies and Phoenix Hardware Engineering and Supplies Ltd which was owned by Shalveen Narayan who is the seventh accused in this case.
Narayan had pleaded guilty to his charges and awaiting sentencing and also gave evidence as a prosecution witness in the trial.
A total of $86,319.04 was paid to Ontime Stationery and Shavel Stationery while a sum of $276,625.33 was paid to Phoenix Hardware.
These payments were made however the PWD did not receive any supplies from the stated companies.
