A former court officer has been sentenced to 25 months in prison after being convicted of providing false information and mishandling public funds. Isoa Matanitobua, 43, currently a legal practitioner in Suva, was found guilty of over ten charges, including giving false information to a public servant and general dishonesty, stemming from incidents that took place between 2015 and 2016.
During his tenure as the officer in charge at the Sigatoka Magistrate’s Court, Matanitobua was convicted of providing misleading information to a Land Transport Authority (LTA) licensing officer without conducting proper searches. He instructed staff to sign letters without following necessary search procedures, fully aware that the information he supplied was false and would impact LTA records for multiple individuals connected to traffic fines.
Due to these actions, the LTA wrongfully issued renewed driver’s licenses to several men who were ineligible. Furthermore, Matanitobua received $1,616.50 from these individuals but failed to declare this amount.
In light of his conviction, the court ordered that Matanitobua serve a 25-month sentence for each count concurrently. His legal practicing certificate has also been suspended following his recent admission to the bar in 2022. This case highlights the importance of accountability and integrity within public service roles.