BUSINESSMAN Jason Zhong has been found guilty of bribery by the Nadi Magistrate’s Court, together with former iTaukei Lands Trust Board estate officer Solomone Keteravu.
The case concerned a $300 payment made by Mr Zhong to Mr Keteravu to help a landowner who asked the latter for help with a funeral.
According to FICAC, Mr Keteravu contacted Mr Zhong in December, 2018, when he could not assist the landowner, who had asked for his help.
Mr Keteravu testified that Mr Zhong agreed to send $300 through Western Union from Suva on the same day.
He also told the court that, at the time, he had been liaising with Mr Zhong and the landowner regarding land matters.
Mr Zhong argued the $300 was sent solely to assist the landowner with the funeral and for no other purpose.
In its ruling, the court found substantial evidence supporting the existence of a reasonable excuse, including that the funeral was genuine, the landowner had requested assistance, Mr Keteravu had retained none of the money, and compassion motivated part of the transaction.
However, the court found that Mr Keteravu had selected Mr Zhong as a TLTB customer seeking land, linked the request for assistance with the landowner’s prospective land, personally received the money, arranged the meeting between the parties and failed to declare the transaction despite TLTB policy and his knowledge of the proper procedure. The pair were given 28 days to appeal the ruling.
