Tulele to be Sentenced Monday

Staff Sergeant Iowane Naivalurua Tulele, who was found guilty with 32 counts of obtaining financial advantage by deception, will be sentenced on Monday. He appeared before the Republic of Fiji Military Forces General Court Martial at the Queen Elizabeth Barracks yesterday.

Between October 8, 2015 and February 11, 2016 at Berkley Crescent in Suva by deception of making deductions from 32 Republic of Fiji Military Forces (RFMF) personnel, Tulele dishonestly obtained a financial advantage of $54,630 from the RFMF.

The General Court Martial prosecutor was Captain Aisea Paka and defence lawyer was Filimoni Vosarogo. Captain Paka said Tulele had shown a lack of remorse. “This was a case that showed that the accused was motivated by greed. The accused did not take the step to pay a single cent back to RFMF,” Captain Paka said.

“The accused used the RFMF Pay office as his own pay machine. This is a case of a continuous offence against RFMF.”

Captain Paka added that the sentence that will be given to Tulele should be sounding a message within their institution, as a warning to would be offenders not to commit the same type of offence.

Mr Vosarogo, in his mitigation, said Tulele was remorseful for his action.

“He is 39-years-old and a father of five children. Please consider the character witness that gave evidence. This is a summary offence and not an indictable offence,” he said.

“He is a first offender and he has a young family.”