2 former workers of then Public Works Department each receive 7 year sentence

Two former workers of the then Public Works Department have each received a seven year sentence.

Suva High Court Judge Justice Riyaz Hamza said that the repetitive and systematic breaches of the procurement procedures showed prior planning and a deliberate attempt to defraud public funds. 

Amelia Vunisea and Laisa Halafi pleaded guilty to one count each of Abuse of Office and 33 and 27 counts of Causing a Loss  respectively.

Halafi is also charged with one count of Obtaining a Financial Advantage last November.

The two were charged alongside seven others by FICAC last year for causing a loss of $93,512.48 from the then PWD.

They admitted to facilitating false payments to Crazy and Entire Office Supplies between February and May 2010.

Vunisea  and  Halafi  are  currently  serving  inmates  after  being  sentenced  to  eight and  nine  years eleven months respectively in May last year.

Last month, they also received a sentence of six years each for similar offences.

All these sentences are being served concurrently.