3 Nov 2009

Fiji man denies fraud-related charges relating to scam in Vanuatu

11:22 am on 3 November 2009

A Fiji man linked to a multi-million scam in Vanuatu has denied fraud-related charges in the High Court in Suva.

Fiji Live reports, Shalendra Sen Sinha, pleaded not guilty to charges of uttering forge documents, forgery, obtaining money on forged documents, money laundering and larceny.

He is alleged to have committed the crimes against the Fiji Islands Revenue and Customs Authority.

Sinha's lawyer, Haroon Ali Shah, did not attend today's proceedings, prompting Judge Justice Daniel Goundar to defer the case to November 16.

Sinha is also wanted in Vanuatu in connection with a scam that led to the downfall last July of one of Vanuatu's powerful politicians, Sato Kilman.

It is alleged that Singh fled to Fiji after the discovery of the racket.