16 Sep 2008

More charges expected in Fiji agriculture scam

11:44 am on 16 September 2008

Fiji's Director of Public Prosecutions says he expects to charge more people in connection with the Agriculture scam case.

Fijilive reports that this was revealed by State lawyer Andie Driu, when the nine-month trial of two men ended in the High Court yesterday.

Pita Alifereti and Peli Kete Doviyaroi were found guilty of official corruption and will be sentenced tomorrow.

Pita Alifereti was alleged to have operated a company called Repina Wholesalers, which supplied farming implements to farmers under the agricultural assistance scheme.

He was accused of giving money and favours to civil servants in the Ministry of Agriculture in return for orders.

Doviyaroi was a storeman and purchasing officer in the Ministry's Nausori office.

Other people related to the case, former Agriculture Permanent Secretary Peniasi Kunatuba and Principal Accountant Suliasi Sorovakatini have already been tried and are now serving jail terms.