Suva High Court Judge Justice Salesi Temo has ruled in favor of FICAC in the case of former Acting Deputy Official Receiver Viliame Katia.
FICAC had appealed against the sentence of serving prisoner Katia who was sentenced to 14-years imprisonment in 2017 by the Suva Magistrates Court.
Katia had also counter appealed against his sentence saying that it is excessive.
Katia was convicted of three counts of abuse of office for gain, four counts of forgery, one count of embezzlement, one count of giving false information to a public servant, one count of unauthorized modification of data and one count of obtaining financial advantage.
The total amount involved was $4.1 million.
Justice Temo in his ruling has ordered that the case be transferred back to the Magistrate who had sentenced Katia, to read the High Court Judgment and accordingly transfer the case to the High Court for sentencing.
He further stated that the Magistrates Court is for summary offences and is limited to a 10-year sentencing and that the maximum sentence for some of Katia’s charges were above the jurisdictions of a Magistrates Court.
The case has been adjourned to 20th of next month to ensure that the orders have been complied with.
