Trio facing fraud-related charges against FNPF granted bail
Three men charged with multiple counts of fraudrelated offences against the Fiji National Provident Fund were granted bail by the Magistrates Court in Suva.
Travel agent, Taniela Samutitoga, 45, soldier, Waisake Tabualevu, 29 and 45-year-old, Jijilia Vosataki appeared before Magistrate Deepika Prakash yesterday. Samutitoga is alleged to have given a forged Certificate of Title to the second and third accused persons to be used for the withdrawal of funds from the FNPF.
The document was allegedly altered and used by a former FNPF staff, who already faces similar charges, to assume that the second and third accused were prospective buyers of the property.
The two then allegedly submitted their original withdrawal for Urban Housing Assistance Form to FNPF with the intention of inducing FNPF officials to accept it as genuine. And upon its acceptance, to dishonestly obtain a gain amounting to $64,200, which was released from their FNPF account.
The money was allegedly shared among all accused persons.
The first accused is charged with one count of obtaining financial advantage by deception: For allegedly obtaining $64,200 from FNPF using forged documents.
Tabualevu is charged with one count of using forged documents: Contrary to Section 157(1)(a) of the Crimes Act 2009; and one count of obtaining financial advantage for obtaining $5000 from FNPF using forged documents.
Vosataki is charged with one count of using forged document, and one count of obtaining financial advantage by deception for obtaining $12,000 from FNPF, using forged documents.
The three have been granted bail and the case has been adjourned to October 5 for plea. Edited by Percy Kean