Two men have been granted bail by the Suva Magistrates Court in relation to an alleged $1.6 million tender scam. The individuals, Ripon Baral and Ravnil Chand, are facing serious charges as outlined by the Fiji Independent Commission Against Corruption (FICAC). Baral is charged with one count of Abuse of Office, while Chand faces a count of Bribery.
The allegations state that between October 5, 2017, and January 15, 2018, Baral, serving as the Manager Project Control at the Fiji Roads Authority (FRA), neglected to disclose a conflict of interest when awarding a contract to Lomanitoba Company Limited, of which Chand is reportedly the director. It is further alleged that during this period, Chand offered Baral $1.6 million as an inducement for actions taken in his official capacity.
Baral also held a directorship at Usha Investment Pte Limited at the time of these events. The two defendants appeared before Resident Magistrate Charles Ratakele, during which FICAC Prosecutor Josann Pene indicated that the prosecution was not opposing bail, but recommended strict conditions given the severity of the charges. Each accused was required to post a non-cash bail bond of $5,000.
The court imposed several conditions on the bail, including mandatory attendance at court proceedings, a prohibition on reoffending, restrictions on changing residential addresses without permission, surrendering of passports, and a requirement to remain in the country. Furthermore, if either accused has expired passports, they are barred from applying for new ones.
The defendants provided two sureties each, which were accepted by the court. The case is set to be revisited on January 30, 2026, to confirm the second phase disclosures. Both men are represented by lawyer Hemendra Nagin, while FICAC’s interests are overseen by prosecutor Pene.
This situation underscores ongoing efforts to combat corruption and uphold accountability in tender processes, reflecting a broader commitment to transparency within public institutions in Fiji.