The Suva Magistrates Court has ruled that Afrana Nisha, the former secretary of the Independent Legal Services Commission (ILSC), will stand trial on multiple corruption charges totaling over $27,000. The accusations against her include forgery of signatures belonging to the former Solicitor-General, Sharvada Sharma. Nisha faces seven counts of Falsification of Documents and three counts of Obtaining Financial Advantage, with the alleged offenses taking place during her time at the ILSC between July 2012 and November 2014.
Prosecutors claim that Nisha forged signatures on various cheques, including those of Mr. Sharma and lawyer Ana Tuiketei, with former ILSC counsel Paul Madigan listed as payee on some of the documents. One cheque, amounting to $2,537.44, was reportedly cashed by another individual under Nisha’s instruction. Witness testimony from Vandana Raj, who was directed by Nisha to cash the cheque and deliver the money, supported the prosecution’s claims in court.
Resident Magistrate Shageeth Somaratne evaluated the defense’s efforts to dismiss the charges and ruled that there exists credible evidence to proceed with all ten counts. Testimonies from Mr. Sharma, Ms. Tuiketei, and Mr. Madigan were also presented, all of whom professed ignorance regarding the cheques issued in their names. The court reviewed bank records confirming that money had indeed been withdrawn from the ILSC account.
Following the rejection of the defense’s application, the case is set to move into a full trial phase, offering a comprehensive investigation into the allegations and shedding light on the operational integrity of public offices in Fiji. This case underlines the critical need for accountability within government sectors and reflects ongoing efforts to maintain ethical standards in public institutions. The judicial process aims not only to address the specific charges but also to strengthen public trust by affirming a commitment to justice and transparency.