A former senior hydrologist with the Suva Water Department admitted in his caution interview that he received money from his employee's after he approved overtime payments for them.

Faga Finiasi's caution statement was read out in court this morning when his official corruption case started in the Suva Magistrate’s Court.

In his interview, Finiasi was asked whether he ever received money from his employee's after he had approved overtime for them during certain projects between November 2005 and January 2007 which amounted to $670.

Finiasi said he did receive money after one of his employee's collected it from six others who worked under him and were granted over time for certain projects.

However, he denied that he ever made any agreements with them or ever demanded that he be paid for approving overtime.

He maintained that the money was paid to him voluntarily by his workers.

The case will continue this afternoon with the seven men who allegedly paid money to Finiasi expected to give evidence.