31 Months for Former Spokesperson

The former spokesperson for the Vatukaroa Community received a sentence of 31 months by the Labasa Magistrates Court yesterday. Alick Thaggard was charged by the Fiji Independent Commission Against Corruption (FICAC) in 2016 with “False Information to Public Servant” and “Conversion” and was found guilty of both counts in August.

For the first count he received a sentence of six months and for the second count, he received a sentence of 31 months with a non-parole period of 24 months.

Both sentences will be served at the same time. During the trial it was proven that he used monetary assistance that was provided by the Ministry of Multi-Ethnic Affairs to build a Community Hall, and built a Church instead. The church in question belonged to the members of the Methodist Church in Vatukaroa.

In delivering the sentence, Resident Magistrate Timoci Qalinauci said the crime committed breached the trust between the community, the accused and the Government, and showed pre-planning.

Furthermore, he said the Vatukaroa community suffered as a result of this crime because there was still no Community Hall as initially promised.

Five witnesses were brought before the court in the twoweek trial by FICAC lawyer Adrian Sharma after the accused pleaded not guilty to the two charges against him. The accused has 28 days to appeal.