Fiji Independent Commission Against Corruption - FICAC

01/09/2026

𝐓𝐫𝐢𝐚𝐥 𝐁𝐞𝐠𝐢𝐧𝐬 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐅𝐨𝐫𝐦𝐞𝐫 𝐃𝐏𝐌 𝐏𝐫𝐚𝐬𝐚𝐝

The trial of former Deputy Prime Minister Professor Biman Prasad commenced today before Resident Magistrate Yogesh Prasad in the Suva Magistrates’ Court.

During the evidence of the prosecution’s first witness, the defence objected to the proposed admission of a company document on relevance and hearsay grounds.

Professor Prasad has pleaded not guilty to one count of Failure to Comply with Statutory Disclosure Requirements, contrary to section 24(5) of the Political Parties (Registration, Conduct, Funding and Disclosures) Act 2013, and an alternative count under section 27(1)(c) of the Act.

The charges concern an allegation that his declaration of assets, liabilities and income as at 31 December 2015 did not disclose his directorship in Platinum Hotels & Resorts PTE Limited.

The Court directed the prosecution to respond to the objection and adjourned the matter to 2 September 2026 for submissions, after which time the Court will rule on the admissibility of the document.

𝐄𝐍𝐃𝐒//

31/08/2026

31/08/2026

𝐂𝐨𝐮𝐫𝐭 𝐂𝐨𝐧𝐯𝐢𝐜𝐭𝐬 𝐅𝐨𝐫𝐦𝐞𝐫 𝐢𝐓𝐋𝐓𝐁 𝐎𝐟𝐟𝐢𝐜𝐞𝐫 𝐨𝐧 𝐓𝐰𝐨 𝐁𝐫𝐢𝐛𝐞𝐫𝐲 𝐂𝐨𝐮𝐧𝐭𝐬

The Suva Magistrates Court has convicted former iTaukei Land Trust Board (iTLTB) officer Josaia Waqairatu on two counts of Bribery.

Mr Waqairatu was convicted on 28 August 2026 after Resident Magistrate Viniana Diroiroi found the charges against him proved beyond reasonable doubt.

The charges relate to two occasions between 1 September 2019 and 31 December 2019 when Mr Waqairatu was employed by iTLTB.

The Court found that Mr Waqairatu solicited advantages totalling $450 in connection with acts performed in his capacity as a public servant relating to an iTLTB lease application.

The Court also rejected Mr Waqairatu's explanation that the money constituted a personal loan.

Under the Prevention of Bribery Act 2007, a loan falls within the meaning of an “advantage”.

Mr Waqairatu has been remanded in custody pending sentencing.

The matter has been adjourned to 4 September 2026 for mitigation submissions and sentencing.

𝐄𝐍𝐃𝐒//

28/08/2026

𝐅𝐈𝐂𝐀𝐂 𝐅𝐚𝐫𝐞𝐰𝐞𝐥𝐥𝐬 𝐌𝐚𝐧𝐚𝐠𝐞𝐫 𝐂𝐨𝐦𝐩𝐥𝐚𝐢𝐧𝐭𝐬 & 𝐆𝐨𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐧𝐚𝐧𝐜𝐞 𝐌𝐬 𝐊𝐨𝐥𝐨𝐫𝐚 𝐍𝐚𝐥𝐢𝐯𝐚

The Fiji Independent Commission Against Corruption (FICAC) today acknowledged the service of Manager Complaints & Governance, Ms Kolora Naliva, as she prepares to conclude her service with the Commission.

Ms Naliva joined FICAC in 2014 as a State Counsel in the Legal Department and was later appointed to several senior roles within the Commission.

During her service, she held responsibilities across complaints, corruption prevention, internal audit, investigations-legal and governance, contributing to the Commission’s work in corruption prevention, public awareness, ethics and values training, anti-bribery initiatives and governance engagement.

Most recently, Ms Naliva served as Manager Complaints & Governance.

Her contribution and years of service were acknowledged by FICAC’s Heads of Department following their meeting today.

FICAC thanks Ms Naliva for her service, commitment and contribution to the Commission and wishes her well in the next chapter of her professional journey.

𝐄𝐍𝐃𝐒//

26/08/2026

𝐇𝐢𝐠𝐡 𝐂𝐨𝐮𝐫𝐭 𝐃𝐢𝐬𝐦𝐢𝐬𝐬𝐞𝐬 𝐏𝐫𝐞𝐥𝐢𝐦𝐢𝐧𝐚𝐫𝐲 𝐎𝐛𝐣𝐞𝐜𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐢𝐧 𝐍𝐚𝐬𝐢𝐧𝐮 𝐓𝐨𝐰𝐧 𝐂𝐨𝐮𝐧𝐜𝐢𝐥 𝐂𝐚𝐬𝐞

The High Court of Fiji has dismissed a preliminary objection challenging the Fiji Independent Commission Against Corruption’s (FICAC) authority to institute a charge of conspiracy to defraud without the prior consent of the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP).

Justice Usaia Ratuvili delivered the ruling on 25 August 2026 in the proceedings against Mr Pauliasi Tabualevu Bainivalu and Mr Shiu Raman.

Mr Bainivalu and Mr Raman are each charged with one count of Conspiracy to Defraud - Obtaining a Gain and one count of Destroying of Evidence.

Mr Bainivalu also faces 2 counts of Bribery, while Mr Raman faces one count of Bribery. Both accused have pleaded not guilty.

Count 1 alleges that between 1 January 2014 and 31 July 2019, Mr Bainivalu and Mr Raman conspired to dishonestly obtain a gain of $370,061.39 from the Nasinu Town Council.

Mr Raman raised a preliminary objection to Count 1, contending that proceedings for conspiracy required the prior consent of the DPP and that, in the absence of such consent, the count could not proceed.

The High Court rejected the objection and ruled that FICAC has jurisdiction to institute the charge of conspiracy to defraud in the name of the FICAC Commissioner without obtaining the DPP’s prior consent.

The Court further ruled that Count 1 is properly before the Court and will not be dismissed or severed from the Information.

The ruling concerns the preliminary objection only and does not determine the merits of the charges against either accused.

𝐄𝐍𝐃//

26/08/2026

𝐅𝐈𝐂𝐀𝐂 𝐃𝐢𝐬𝐜𝐨𝐧𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐮𝐞𝐬 𝐏𝐫𝐨𝐜𝐞𝐞𝐝𝐢𝐧𝐠𝐬 𝐀𝐠𝐚𝐢𝐧𝐬𝐭 𝐒𝐚𝐲𝐞𝐝-𝐊𝐡𝐚𝐢𝐲𝐮𝐦 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐒𝐚𝐠𝐚𝐫

The Fiji Independent Commission Against Corruption (FICAC) today entered a 𝑛𝑜𝑙𝑙𝑒 𝑝𝑟𝑜𝑠𝑒𝑞𝑢𝑖 in the proceedings against former Fiji Broadcasting Corporation Chief Executive Officer Mr Riyaz Sayed-Khaiyum and Mr Vimlesh Sagar before the Suva Magistrates Court.

FICAC State Counsel Mr Setefano Komaibaba entered the 𝑛𝑜𝑙𝑙𝑒 𝑝𝑟𝑜𝑠𝑒𝑞𝑢𝑖 before Resident Magistrate Charles Ratakele, pursuant to section 49 of the Criminal Procedure Act 2009.

The Court was informed that FICAC was unable to proceed with the trial because two prosecution witnesses required for the proceedings were unavailable.

Following the entry of the 𝑛𝑜𝑙𝑙𝑒 𝑝𝑟𝑜𝑠𝑒𝑞𝑢𝑖, Mr Sayed-Khaiyum and Mr Sagar were discharged in respect of the charges and the bail conditions relating to these proceedings were lifted.

Mr Sayed-Khaiyum had been charged with one count of Abuse of Office for Gain. It was alleged that between 1 July 2017 and 31 January 2023, he initiated five legal proceedings on behalf of FBC without the knowledge or approval of the FBC Board of Directors.

He had also faced an alternative charge of General Dishonesty – Causing a Loss. It was alleged that the legal proceedings were not in FBC's interests and resulted in a loss of $138,813.37.

Mr Sagar had been charged with one count of General Dishonesty – Causing a Loss. It was alleged that he approved payments totalling $15,075.88 to R Patel Lawyers without the approval of the FBC Board of Directors.

Under section 49 of the Criminal Procedure Act 2009, the discharge does not operate as a bar to subsequent proceedings based on the same facts.

𝐄𝐍𝐃𝐒//

23/08/2026

FICAC extends warm wishes on the occasion of Prophet Mohammed's Birthday.

May this occassion inspire peace, compassion and a continued commitment to integrity.

20/08/2026

On this week's episode of "𝑩𝒓𝒆𝒂𝒌𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝑪𝒉𝒂𝒊𝒏𝒔 𝒐𝒇 𝑪𝒐𝒓𝒓𝒖𝒑𝒕𝒊𝒐𝒏" on Hope Channel Fiji, FICAC Senior Education & Anti-Corruption Officer, Mr Inoke Drawe, discusses the Commission's preventive role in combating corruption, highlighting the importance of awareness, education, integrity and accountability in building a corruption-free Fiji.

📺 Tune in to "Breaking the Chains of Corruption" every Thursday at 8pm or catch the replay every Friday at 10am for an insightful discussion on how prevention can help strengthen our communities and institutions.

🎥 Video Courtesy: Hope Channel Fiji