Radio New Zealand - Te Reo Irirangi o Aotearoa

Former senior Fiji official jailed over agriculture ministry scam

Posted at 02:57 on 26 September, 2007 UTC

A former senior Fiji government official has been jailed for two and a half years after he pleaded guilty to charges of official corruption and abuse of office in connection with the 13-million US dollar agriculture ministry scam.

Suliasi Sorovakatini was principal accountant in the ministry of agriculture when the offences occurred between June 2000 and December 2001.

The prosecution told the court that Sorovakatini had paid out more than 600,000 US dollars to a company known as Repina Wholesalers and corruptly received property and cash amounting to 70,000 US dollars.

Suva High Court judge, Justice Gerard Winter, sentenced Sorovakatini to 16 months in jail for abuse of office and two and a half years for official corruption, both sentences to be served concurrently.

Justice Winter said Sorovakatini knew what he was doing was wrong and personally benefited from the offences to the tune of 70,000 US dollars.

Sorovakatini’s lawyer told the court that his client was remorseful and had become a church pastor several years ago.

Several other people including a businessman charged in connection with the same offences who pleaded not guilty have yet to face trial.