Senior Lands Ministry Officer Charged with Forgery and Financial Offences

A senior officer at the Ministry of Lands and Mineral Resources has been charged by the Fiji Independent Commission Against Corruption (FICAC) with offences relating to forgery and financial misconduct.

Varoon Jayant Chandra, the Senior Administrative Officer, appeared at the Suva Magistrates Court this afternoon facing one count of Using a Forged Document and two counts of Obtaining a Financial Advantage.

FICAC alleges that on or about 16 January 2018, Chandra knowingly used a forged Fiji National University certificate and academic transcripts to dishonestly secure the position of Acting Senior Administrative Officer (Asset/Procurement) at the Ministry.

He is also accused of receiving extra salary payments between 16 June 2021 and 1 July 2022, amounting to $7,011.51, despite allegedly knowing he was not entitled to the funds.

FICAC State Counsel Immanuel Turaga told the Court that the first phase of disclosures has been served.

Resident Magistrate Somaratne granted Chandra a non-cash bail of $1,000 and imposed strict bail conditions, including not re-offending, not interfering with prosecution witnesses, not changing his residential address without informing the Court, and surrendering his passport.

A Stop Departure Order is to be issued against the accused.

The matter has been adjourned to 8 July 2025 for second phase disclosures and election of court on the forgery charge.