Bail extended for exFICAC secretary

The former Secretary for the Independent Legal Services Commission, Afrana Rahiman Nisha had her bail extended by the Suva Magistrates Court yesterday.

The matter was called before Magistrate Liyanage Wickramasekara.

The Fiji Independent Commission Against Corruption charged Nisha with seven counts each of falsification of documents and three counts each of obtaining a financial advantage.

FICAC counsel Sera Fatafehi served the 2013 audited accounts from the Office of Auditor General’s (OAG) report and further informed the Court that the 2014 and 2015 audited accounts are yet to be received from the OAG and once it is received, it will be served to the defence accordingly.

Defence Counsel Ashneel Nand has been given 21 days to make written submissions on the use of the telephone records and bank account statements to which prosecution has been given 14 days to reply to.

The alleged incident occurred between July 1, 2012 and November 5, 2014.

It is alleged that Nisha while being employed as secretary to the Independent Legal Services Commission dishonestly falsified seven Bank of Baroda cheques amounting to $16,136.34 by forging signatures of the Solicitor General of Fiji and the payees and as a result of this conduct obtained a financial advantage of $16,136.34 from the Independent Legal Services Commission.

The case has been adjourned to November 3, for Mention to check on the submissions before a Ruling is made.