Two men have been granted bail by the Suva Magistrates Court in connection with a significant alleged tender scam worth $1.6 million. The defendants, Ripon Baral and Ravnil Chand, are facing serious charges brought forth by the Fiji Independent Commission Against Corruption (FICAC). Baral is charged with Abuse of Office, while Chand faces a charge of Bribery.
The accusations detail that between October 5, 2017, and January 15, 2018, Baral, who was serving as the Manager of Project Control at the Fiji Roads Authority (FRA), failed to disclose a conflict of interest when awarding a contract to Lomanitoba Company Limited, a company that Chand is reportedly the director of. It is further claimed that Chand offered Baral $1.6 million as an inducement to act in his official capacity.
At the time of the alleged offenses, Baral also held a directorship at Usha Investment Pte Limited. The defendants appeared before Resident Magistrate Charles Ratakele, where FICAC Prosecutor Josann Pene stated that while the prosecution was not opposed to granting bail, strict conditions were advised due to the nature of the charges. As a result, each defendant was required to post a non-cash bail bond of $5,000.
Several conditions were imposed by the court, including mandatory attendance at court hearings, restrictions on changing residential addresses without consent, a ban on reoffending, and the surrender of passports. Additionally, if either defendant holds an expired passport, they are prohibited from applying for a new one.
The court accepted sureties from both men, and the case is scheduled to be reviewed on January 30, 2026, to confirm disclosures for the next phase of the proceedings. Both defendants are being represented by lawyer Hemendra Nagin, while FICAC’s case is managed by Prosecutor Pene.
This case highlights the ongoing efforts to combat corruption in Fiji, reflecting a strong commitment to ensuring accountability and transparency in public procurement processes. Such actions reinforce the significance of addressing misconduct and maintaining the integrity of governmental operations.