WOMAN WHO CAUSED LOSS TO INDUSTRY JAILED FOR FIVE YEARS
A33-year-old Lautoka woman was sentenced to five years imprisonment for receiving $285,680.96 proceeds of crime into two bank accounts which she shared with her husband.
Preetika Anuwesh Lata was sentenced to two years imprisonment for one count of receiving proceeds of and five years imprisonment for money laundering. She was ordered to serve the terms concurrently with a nonparole period of two years imprisonment.
Between February 14, 2013 and May 14, 2014 the accused Lata dishonestly received the amount with the knowledge that the money was proceeds of crime were derived directly or indirectly from some form of unlawful activity. During her sentencing the accused was told that the sugar cane industry suffered a severe setback due to the fraudulent activity committed by her in collusion with her husband.
It was revealed that Lata’s husband Sudhanshu Sharma joined the Fiji Sugar Corporation in 2011 and was in-charge of payroll for about 2000 employees and nonstaff members.
In 2012, a new payroll processing software was implemented and her husband was the officer responsible for processing and consolidating the payroll and generating bank files for all FSC employees.
Between February 14, 2013 and May 14, 2014 the accused Lata dishonestly received the amount with knowledge that the money was proceeds of crime were derived directly or indirectly from some form of unlawful activity.