DPP withdraw charges of 55 former PWD workers

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Nemani Tuifagalele shakes the hand of one of the former PWD workers while the others look on. Picture: SUPPLIED

It was a sigh of relief for the 55 former Public Works Department (PWD) workers who were alleged to have been involved in the sick sheet scam after the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (ODPP) withdrew the charges yesterday before Chief Magistrate Usaia Ratuvili.

The trial was set to convene next week from March 2-31, 2020.

The case was instituted by the State in 2012 alleging that all the accused persons defrauded the State of $18,500 in the sick sheet scam.

Rusiate Tubunaruarua said he knew justice would surface somehow but it took a back seat for eight years until it presented itself in an unexpected manner this morning.

From different religious background, the group could not resist the urge to come together in thanksgiving prayer under the rain outside court.

The group who were represented by Suva lawyer Nemani Tuifagalele are planning to convene a social get together lunch and grog in the next two weeks to celebrate this occasion.

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