The former financial controller for Vinod Patel & Company today gave evidence in the Suva High Court in the case against a former employee of the company who is charged with money laundering and corrupt practices.

Kumar Shankar, while looking at some documents in court today, said that accounting practice and IT systems go hand-in-hand.

DPP lawyer Pita Bulamainivalu cross examined Shankar where he revealed that computerized systems cannot make mistakes like different names of payee on vouchers and cheques.

He stressed that vouchers and other documents must correspond with the cheques.

Shankar is expected to be cross examined by defense lawyer Parvesh Sharma.

Monika Aurora is alleged to have unlawfully obtained $472,466 and disposed the cash for her and benefit of others by forging Vinod Patel & Company’s cheques and vouchers between 9th December 2005 and 2007.

She is also alleged to have offered $10,000 to the accountant of the company to stop all investigations.

Aurora pleaded not guilty to both counts yesterday.

The trial continues before High Court Judge Justice Salesi Temo.


Story by: Ronal Deo