Transparency International has applauded the High Court Judge Justice Isikeli Mataitoga's suggestion that people in position of trust must be stopped from abusing their office through increasing the maximum sentence to 14 years imprisonment.

The comment comes after Justice Mataitoga sentenced Pita Alifereti and Peli Kete to 3 and 4 years in prison for official corruption in the Agriculture Scam and called for an increase in the maximum sentence for such offences.

Chairperson Suliana Siwatibau said it is seen in Fiji that people who commit petty crimes are beaten up even before they appear before courts while their trials are shorter and less costly.

However, she said people who commit white collar crime such as official corruption can continue with their crime for many years, can engage expensive lawyers and can drag their cases for longer period costing more to the tax payers.

Siwatibau said the millions of dollars lost from the government coffers through corruption over the years has meant denial for better school, improved medical services, better roads and other necessary services.