A man charged with two counts of conversion of trust who told the court that he has returned more than half of the money he took and is a lay preacher now was sentenced to 18 month imprisonment by the Labasa Magistrates Court.

The court heard that on 26th April to 13th May last year Tui Turaga Vunibola a former staff of Fiji Independent Commission Against Corruption and also the President and Trustee of Kavugalei Youth Club had applied for funds from Australian High Commissions Direct Aid Program.

Vunibola had done this on behalf of the youth group to start a piggery business and then a prawn farming business.

However, he used the $6000 to maintain and reconstruct his house, toilet and bathroom.

He pleaded guilty to the charges and informed the court that he suffered the loss of his job as a result of his act.

Magistrate Lakmal Wickramsoorya while sentencing Vunibola said that being president of the club and a FICAC officer, the amount of trust placed upon him was higher than any other person and being the trustee of the club the money was to be utilized for the benefit of the members.

He stressed that the sentence must reflect the seriousness of the offence.