Two former senior public servants of Nadi Town Council have been convicted by the Lautoka High Court Judge Justice Paul Madigan for Abuse of Office after he agreed with the majority guilty opinion of the assessors.
Former Special Administrator Aisea Tuidraki and a former Acting Chief Executive Officer Sakaraia Serau were jointly charged with one count of Abuse of Office.
They wrote off the rates and interest that was to be paid to the Council amounting to $86,792.94 without the approval of the Minister for Local Government.
The court stated that the power to write‑off the rates and interest only vests with the Minister and in this case no such approval was obtained.
The matter was adjourned to 4 December 2018 for mitigation and sentencing submissions.