EX-POST FIJI
HEADS WONG AND ALI FRONT COURT
The former chief executive officer of Post Fiji, Wing Ham Wong, appeared in the Suva Magistrates Court yesterday facing charges of general dishonesty and aiding and abetting. He appeared with co-accused and former supply chain manager, Abdul Irshad Ali, who is charged with false or misleading documents. Wong was represented by Pravesh Sharma while Ali was represented by Jitendra Reddy.
On the first count of general dishonesty causing a loss, between July 1, 2016 and October 31, 2016, Wong allegedly dishonestly caused a risk of loss to the Fiji Revenue and Customs Services by providing an underrated value for a 65inch LG LED Television bought for his personal use.
Wong allegedly did this while knowing that the loss would occur or a substantial risk of loss would occur to FRCS.
On the second count, Ali is alleged to have submitted a Tax Invoice to an employee of Speedy Customs Agency while knowing that the document was false or misleading and that the document was produced in compliance or purported compliance with the Customs Act. For the third count of aiding and abetting false or misleading documents, during the same period Wong allegedly aided and abetted Ali in providing the tax invoice. Fiji Independent Commission Against Corruption (FICAC) prosecutor Anaseini Lomani served Wong and Ali with first phase disclosures namely CD copies of their caution interviews and copies of the charge sheet.
She is expected to serve them with transcripts of their interviews later on. Magistrate Waleen George questioned Ms Lomani if the Wong and Ali had previous convictions. She said they were first offenders however they had to clarify Ali’s record.
Ms Lomani said the prosecution was not objecting to bail, but requested the court to impose strict bail conditions and a stop departure order for Wong and Ali. Magistrate George released Wong and Ali on $1000 surety bail and ordered them to report to the Totogo and the Valelevu Police stations respectively every last Saturday of the month between 6am and 6pm. She also ordered Wong and Ali not to offend while on bail and not interfere with prosecution witnesses.
She also advised them to reside at their current residential addresses until the disposal of their case. A stop departure notice was imposed and Wong and Ali were ordered to surrender all travel documents to the Court registry. The case has been adjourned to March 14 for mention.