FIJI COURT OF APPEAL
Man who stole $4 million appeals against 23-year sentence
A$4 million thief, who was jailed to 23 years for corruption-related offences, has appealed against his sentence.
Viliame Katia appeared before Justice Chandana Prematilaka at the Fiji Court of Appeal yesterday.
Katia was charged by the Fiji Independent Commission Against Corruption (FICAC) with three counts of abuse of office for gain, four counts of forgery, one count of embezzlement by servant, one count of false information to public servant, one count of unauthorised modification of data and one count of obtaining financial advantage amounting to more than $4 million.
He is appealing his sentence with a non-parole period of 22 years on two grounds:
The appeal claims the Judge erred in law when he sentenced
Katia to a term of imprisonment, which is “harsh and excessive”. Appellant’s lawyer Romanu Vananalagi requested time to file submissions.
Justice Prematilaka ordered Mr Vananalagi to file submissions by August 3.
FICAC lawyer Rashmi Aslam has been ordered to file his submission by August 31. The matter adjourned to 31. ashna.kumar@fijisun. com.fj was August