Lawyer Akuila Nawaco Naco was produced in the Suva Magistrates Court yesterday accused of stealing more than $1.5 million through an EFTPOS machine.
Mr Naco appeared before Magistrate Indula Ratnayake charged with one count of theft.
Police said in May 2018, he applied for an EFTPOS machine to be installed at his office under the supermarket mode.
He allegedly switched it to the tourism mode without properly complying with the bank’s policies and procedures, and transferred $1,550,900 from the bank to his law firm’s operating account.
The funds were transferred to the firm’s trust account and multiple cheque withdrawals were made where Mr Naco is alleged to be the only signatory.
The police prosecutor made an application for the matter to be transferred to the High Court because the amount involved was beyond the jurisdiction of the Magistrates Court.
Police objected to bail on the grounds of nil recovery, the possibility of interference with witnesses, and the public interest.
Defence lawyer Filimoni Vosarogo said the procedure for an offence triable in the Magistrates Court was for the charge to be put to the accused and because it was not an indictable offence, it should not be automatically transferred to the High Court.
He said the primary consideration for bail was whether the accused would come to court or not and that there was zero chance Mr Naco would not.
He also applied for name suppression.
Mr Ratnayake granted the accused bail in the sum $5000 cash bond, with two sureties of $5000 each.
The matter will be called again for mention on October 26 for further disclosures.
