Padarath, Vakaloloma await sentencing for forgery

Benjamin Padarath and lawyer Aseri Vakaloloma, who are charged by the Fiji Independent Commission Against Corruption (FICAC) with one count each of forgery in 2011, will be sentenced on August 22. The court had heard Padarath had forged documents and removed the name of his father Adishwar Padarath as a director in their company.

He replaced it with the name of Prime Minister Voreqe Bainimarama. The forged document was found in Padarath’s house.

The pair appeared before Chief Magistrate Usaia Ratuvili yesterday for their mitigation and sentencing submission. The State was represented by FICAC lawyer Rashmi Aslam, Vakaloloma was represented by Filimoni Vosarogo and Padarath was represented by Barbara Malimali and Aman-Ravindra Singh. Sakiusa Rabuka, who worked with Vakaloloma, was called in as a character witness for Vakaloloma. He told the court that Vakaloloma was someone who had integrity, honesty and someone who had good working relations. Vakaloloma also had an affidavit and character reference from his wife.

Susana Tuisawau was called in as a character witness for Padarath. She told the court that she had known Padarath as a young boy till adulthood as they were family friends.

She said Padarath grew up in a very supportive environment and for that reason Padarath and his siblings stood out as well-mannered children.

She also informed the court that Padarath was a kind person. He would go out of his way to help others and was someone who did not display any negative attitude towards others.

Padarath also had a letter confirming his employment status and character references from the mother of his first child and also from the mother of his other two children. He also had a letter from the vice president of his church and a letter from his mother.

During their mitigation and sentencing submission, lawyer Mr Singh informed the court that Padarath was tortured when he was apprehended and it was a dark episode in his life.

He also informed the court that the appropriate sentence for Padarath should be a non-conviction one. Mr Singh told the court that Padarath was a man who had been rehabilitated. Padarath was a farmer and has four children. He also said Padarath had admitted to his mistakes in the past and was a reformed person.

Mr Vosarogo also told the court that the appropriate sentence for Vakaloloma should be a non-conviction sentence.