Prime Minister Voreqe Bainimarama as the Chair of the Constitutional Offices Commission has advised President Jioji Konrote for the immediate revocation of the acting appointment of Colonel Ifereimi Vasu as Commissioner for Fiji Corrections Service.
Bainimarama has also recommended the name of Senior Officer, Kameli Ratu-Vakalevulevu to President Konrote for appointment as Acting Commissioner for Fiji Corrections Service.
This is after the Acting Fiji Corrections Commissioner Colonel Ifereimi Vasu was charged by FICAC yesterday.
Vasu, former Suncourt Hardware Director and Naboro Mart Limited Manager Dhansukh Lal Bhika and former Permanent Secretary for Agriculture and current Acting Deputy Commissioner for Corrections Service Peniasi Kunatuba have been charged in relation to the operations of Naboro Mart Limited.
Vasu has been charged with one count of abuse of office.
It is alleged that while being employed as a Fiji Corrections Commissioner and as a Director of Naboro Mart Limited, Vasu did arbitrary acts for the purpose of gain namely facilitating and approving the purchasing of goods to the amount of $131,683 from the Naboro Mart Limited contrary to the Procurement Regulations 2010, the Financial Management Act 2004, the Finance Manual of the Fiji Corrections Service which were acts prejudicial to the rights of the Fijian government, the Fiji Corrections Service and the approved government contractors.
It is alleged that this occurred between 11th July 2013 and 27th December, 2014.
Peniasi Kunatuba who is the Director Corporate Services and Acting Deputy Commissioner for Fiji Corrections Service has also been charged with one count of abuse of office.
It is alleged that between 31st January 2013 and 7th March 2014, Kunatuba approved the purchase of goods to the amount of $54,734 from Naboro Mart Limited contrary to the Procurement Regulations 2010.
Dhansukh Lal Bhika has been charged with one count of aiding and abetting abuse of office and one count of obtaining a financial advantage.
It alleged that Bhika aided and abetted Ifereimi Vasu between 11th July 2013 and 27th December 2014 while being the Manager of Naboro Mart Limited.
Bhika was allegedly engaged in a conduct namely supplying goods to the Fiji Corrections Service despite not being an approved supplier or a contractor to the government and as result of that conduct obtained a financial advantage amounting to $186,417 for Naboro Mart Limited from Fiji Corrections Service, knowing that Naboro Mart was not eligible to receive the financial advantage.
Magistrate Makereta Mua has granted Vasu, Bhika and Kunatuba bail with $3,000 bond each.
They will reappear in the Suva Magistrates Court on the 10th of February, 2016 for mention and plea.
Bhika and Kunatuba were earlier charged, convicted and sentenced in relation to the 2001 Agriculture Ministry scam.
It was later highlighted that they have been rehabilitated and were assisting the Fiji Corrections Service in some projects.
Bhika was running Naboro Mart Limited while Kunatuba was given senior positions in the Fiji Corrections Service.
