The Suva Magistrates Court has decided that former Independent Legal Services Commission (ILSC) secretary, Afrana Nisha, will face trial on charges related to corruption involving over $27,000. The allegations include the forgery of signatures belonging to the then Solicitor-General, Sharvada Sharma. Nisha is charged with seven counts of Falsification of Documents alongside three counts of Obtaining Financial Advantage, which are said to have occurred during her tenure at ILSC between July 2012 and November 2014.
Prosecutors allege that Nisha falsified various cheques, forging both Mr. Sharma’s and lawyer Ana Tuiketei’s signatures, with former ILSC counsel Paul Madigan listed as a payee on some documents. Notably, one of the cheques, totaling $2,537.44, was allegedly cashed by another individual at Nisha’s direction. Witness testimony from Vandana Raj, who was instructed by Nisha to cash the cheque and hand over the funds, corroborated the prosecution’s case under oath.
Resident Magistrate Shageeth Somaratne assessed the defense’s application to dismiss the charges and found sufficient credible evidence to continue with all ten charges. The court also received sworn testimonies from Mr. Sharma, Ms. Tuiketei, and Mr. Madigan, all of whom denied any knowledge of the cheques issued in their names. Furthermore, bank records reviewed by the court validated that the funds had been withdrawn from the ILSC account.
With the denial of the defense’s application, the case is set to transition to a full trial, allowing for a deeper examination of the allegations and the implications regarding the integrity of public office operations in Fiji. This developing situation emphasizes the importance of accountability in governance and the ongoing efforts to uphold ethical standards within public institutions. The judicial proceedings not only seek to address the specific charges but also aim to reinforce trust in the system by demonstrating the commitment to justice and transparency.