A FORMER Fijian Holdings Unit Trust employee has been sentenced to two years’ imprisonment for stealing more than $15,000 from the company trust over nearly two years.
Samuela Tavara Vaileba was sentenced by Magistrate Shageeth Somaratne to 24 months’ imprisonment, with a non-parole period of 12 months, after being convicted of one count of theft.
The court was told Vaileba dishonestly appropriated $15,652.94 between April 24, 2017, and March 2019 while working as a customer service officer with the company.
Vaileba forged his niece’s signature and unlawfully transferred an existing account into her name.
He then manipulated the company’s system to credit funds into the account without corresponding cash deposits and used falsified redemption forms to withdraw the money for his personal benefit.
The funds have not been recovered, and no restitution has been made.
Vaileba sought a non-conviction order, citing his past good behaviour and future employment prospects.
However, the magistrate found the offending was deliberate, sustained, and dishonest, and involved an abuse of Vaileba’s position of trust.
