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Fiji Time: 9:41 PM on Friday 30 July

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Ministry sends ‘corrupt' 50 home

Maneesha Karan
Tuesday, February 23, 2010

THE Ministry of Works and Transport has terminated 50 employees alleged to be involved in corrupt and fraudulent practices.

Ministry spokeswoman Sainiana Waqainabete confirmed six employees had been sent to prison, two were facing trial, and 11 were under investigation by the police.

"Fifty employees have been terminated over the past two years because of abuse of power, nepotism, fraud, corruption and bribery," Ms Waqainabete said.

"There are others from the 11 departments awaiting investigation."

The six who have been imprisoned include those found guilty of defrauding grass cutting and weeding contracts, amounting to a total of $165,000.

She said the contract was issued in 2007, but no work was carried out.

The matter was dealt with following investigations and the officials were charged and convicted, she said.

"The worth of corrupt practices estimates to a few million dollars," she said.

"We are clamping down on fraud and corrupt practices keeping in line with the objectives set up by the current Government."

A special team had been appointed by the Minister of Works and Transport to investigate the number of people alleged to have had involvement in corruption related cases.

"There is zero tolerance against corruption, zero tolerance against nepotism, and zero tolerance against abuse of power and office.

"People going against the work principles will not be tolerated, they will be investigated upon and if convicted they will be taken to task," Ms Waqainabete said.

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