Chinese National On Alleged Bribery Charge Denied Bail

AChinese national charged with bribery was denied his bail variation application by the High Court in Suva. Qian Jun Shi appeared before High Court Judge, Justice Thushara Rajasinghe on Wednesday.

He is charged with one count of bribery.

It is alleged that on August 2, 2017, in Nakasi, with another person while he was a director and translator/ salesman respectively of Tong Xin Auto Trade Company (Fiji) Limited, without lawful authority or reasonable excuse, offered advantages to a total sum of $200 to two complainants, both public servants employed in the Standards and Engineering Department of the Land Transport Authority. Qian had applied to seek the court’s permission to temporarily lift the Stop Departure order placed on him to allow him to travel to China to get married and register his newborn child. Fiji Independent Commission Against Corruption State Counsel Laite Bokini objected stating that he was a flight risk and there was no strong reason for him to return to Fiji if the application to travel was allowed.

In his ruling, Justice Rajasinghe stated that he did not find any special facts or circumstances to justify the review of this application.

Qian had his initial bail variation application denied by Resident Magistrate Sufia Hamza in the Nasinu Magistrates Court in July this year and so applied to the High Court under the Bail Act to have the July ruling reviewed.

Qian was given 30 days to appeal.

Edited by Percy Kean