During the height of the Farming Assistance scheme in 2000 and 2001, farming implements were being issued to people without any approval letters from the Ministry of Agriculture.

This was revealed in the police statement of Pita Alifereti one of the 3 men charged in relation to the $16 million agriculture scam of 2000 and 2001.

State witness Inspector Nazir Ali continued to read Alifereti's statement who was also Director of Repina Holdings where he revealed that while employed at Morris Hedstroms, cheques valued between $36,000 up to $77,000 were issued to MH's for the supply of hundreds of farming implements to people who turned up even without any approval letters or LPO's from the Ministry.

It was also revealed through Alifereti's statement, who was also the that farming implements were picked up by private vehicles, Agriculture Ministry officials and farmers in taxi's with no written proof that the supply had been authorized.  

Alifereti also admitted that he knew of one instance where the farming implements collected for the Lomaivuna Rotuma Settlement by former Minister for Agriculture Marieta Rigamoto on two occasions.

Alifereti, Kete and Tapele are alleged to have conspired to defraud the government through the Farming Assistance Scheme under the pretext of helping indigenous farmers. The trial continues this afternoon.