Police to Probe Waiqele College Items Claims
Police officers in Labasa are investigating a case where the school management of Waiqele College in Labasa is alleged to have misused items worth of $6000.
Northern Divisional Police Commander (DPC) Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Eparama Waqa has confirmed that a report was lodged by the former principal of the school early last week at the Labasa Police Station.
“A team of Police officers immediately visited the school and our investigation is continuing,” SSP Waqa said. Ashok Kumar Ram, the former principal of the school and now the assistant principal of Vunimoli Islamia College, contacted Fiji Sun and claimed that he had bought some items for the school through the grant given by Ministry of Education, which were unlawfully taken last year.
“The items are – one new brush cutter, two new spray pumps, four culverts, pine timber, some ripped ones and some left over from other construction and maintenance work, one lawn mower, one zig saw, one electric planar and one electric drill,” Mr Ram claimed.
“The school management cannot buy and sell the school property as it is an offence.
“There are special procedures to be followed if something is discarded and to be sold. Since there is no recovering of items and mismanagement I reported the matter to Police to investigate.” When Fiji Sun contacted the Waiqele College secretary, Emmenual Jit, he confirmed that a team of Police officers had visited the school and collected all the documents, including the minutes of the meetings discussed about the items last year that Mr Ram had listed.
“I have been in the management for eight years and the school was built in 1959,” Mr Jit said.
“We have never come across such problems or allegations. Mr Ram is fully aware of the use and the placement of the items; Nothing has been stolen. “Ever since he entered the school he always had issues with the management, teachers and students.
“The Ministry of Education is fully aware about this.”