THE stepson of suspended Fiji Corrections Service commissioner Dr Jalesi Nakarawa, maintains that three officers who gave evidence earlier this week to the Tribunal inquiring into the commissioner’s alleged misconduct lied and fabricated evidence against him.
Inia Yavala told the panel, which included Justices Daniel Goundar, Dane Tuiqereqere and Savenaca Banuva that he completed the fitness, aptitude, psychological and interview stages, and passed all the tests before joining the service on March 18 this year.
The 24-year-old denied failing the 2.4km run or the aptitude assessment.
He also denied he left the testing ground early or was collected by a Corrections vehicle from the ground.
When shown recruitment records indicating he “did not finish” the 2.4km run, he asserted the information was false and that the three officers who testified otherwise were “not telling the truth”.
He told the panel he did not know of any reason why they would fabricate the account, and under oath, he maintained he successfully completed every stage of the selection process and that the allegations of failure were untrue.
When questioned by Justice Daniel Goundar to name one of the 55 individuals who could verify or support Mr Yavala’s claim that he had passed the test, he replied that he could not remember.
Testifying to the other allegations concerning Dr Nakarawa, the Services Welfare Officer, Vili Veikoso, said on August 19 last year, the FCS Wives’ Association submitted a request to the Welfare Fund seeking financial assistance for a volleyball tournament.
He recounted being instructed by Dr Nakarawa to prepare the documentation for Board approval, where the payment was made on September 7 to Dr Nakarawa’s wife, who was the acting president of the FCS Officers’ Wives Association.
In terms of the purchase of a drawer amounting to $3863 for Dr Nakarawa’s residence, Mr Veikoso was informed by the Chief Logistics Officer that under the direction of the commissioner, a withdrawal from the welfare fund was approved for the purchase of furniture.
He then prepared a memo on December 4 addressed to Dr Nakarawa, outlining the proposed expenditure, but he said no formal meeting was convened where the Board deliberated on this expenditure.
In his professional view, the Welfare Fund is intended solely for staff and welfare-related purposes, though officers’ family activities may qualify under certain provisions of the FCS Welfare Policy.
He also told the Tribunal that at the time, he did not consider whether the purchases of a drawer, boat fares, and funding for the volleyball tournament constituted an abuse of the welfare fund, as they appeared to align with the fund’s policy.
The hearing continues tomorrow.
