$52,000 Forfeited to State in Military Fraud Case

The Suva High Court has ordered the forfeiture of more than FJD $52,000 from the bank account of former Republic of Fiji Military Forces (RFMF) officer Ledua Biuvuli Matai, after finding the funds to be tainted property.

In a judgment delivered by Justice Chaitanya Lakshman, the court ruled that FJD $52,312.24 was the proceeds of crime and should be transferred to the State under the Forfeited Assets Fund.

The Fiji Independent Commission Against Corruption (FICAC) brought the case against Matai and others, alleging he facilitated 76 fraudulent payments totaling over FJD $467,000 from the RFMF to a company named Ink Escape Supplies between November 2019 and June 2022.

The company was jointly owned by Matai’s wife and daughter-in-law.

FICAC’s application for forfeiture was supported by an uncontested affidavit, and the court found that, on the balance of probabilities, the funds in Matai’s account were linked to the alleged misconduct.

FICAC was represented by Principal State Counsel Lilian Mausio.

The first and third defendants were represented by Mr. Simione Drole, while the second defendant appeared unrepresented.

Matai and his wife also face related criminal charges currently before the Suva Magistrates’ Court.