Former MP in jail for two years
On Friday, Niko Nawaikula was sentenced to an imprisonment term of 36 months, of which 24 months he will spend in prison. He was sentenced by the High Court for giving false information to a public servant and obtaining $20, 201.35 in travel reimbursements between August 2019 and April 2020.
The court had ruled that Nawaikula breached the Parliamentary Remuneration Act of 2014.
Immigration and Land Transport Authority (LTA) documents have SODELPA Member of Parliament Ratu Suliano Matanitobua’s address as Veivatuloa Village in Namosi.
Two witnesses from different agencies testified this on Friday. It was day three of Matanitobua’s trial before Anti-Corruption High Court Judge Justice Thushara Kumarage.
Matanitobua is charged by the Fiji Independent Commission Against Corruption (FICAC) with one count of giving false information to a public servant and one count of obtaining financial advantage.
It is alleged the MP breached the Parliamentary Remuneration Act of 2014 when they claimed travel and accommodation allowances they were not entitled to.
The allegations were brought by the former Parliament secretarygeneral, Viniana Namosimalua.
Matanitobua is alleged to have falsely stated that his permanent place of residence was in Namosi Village, Namosi, and obtained $38,378.22 between August 2019 and April 2020.
Fiji Immigration officer Sanjana Mala testified that Matanitobua, following a recent trip overseas, listed Veivatuloa Village as his address in his arrival form.
She testified that Matanitobua had applied for an urgent passport which was printed on the same day of the application.
She said his last date of arrival into the country was January 20, 2020. Matanitobua’s lawyer Filimoni Vosaoro questioned whether there was anywhere in the form that said permanent address.
Ms Mala said the address sought in the form was of their permanent address.
She also testified that the arrival card asked for the permanent address which was listed as Veivatuloa, Fiji.
LTA complaints officer and call centre agent Margaret Grey testified in court that Matanitobua’s address listed with the authority was Veivatuloa, Fiji.
She said as per the records of Matanitobua with the authority since he obtained his first licence in 1995, the address listed had been Veivatuloa Village.