A lawyer and an accountant who are facing charges for their part in defrauding their client of more than $120,000 appeared at the Rakiraki Magistrates Court today.
According to a statement from the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (ODPP), lawyer Semi Titoko and accountant Aporosa Ratuveikau of Qarcia Barristers and Solicitors are charged with eight counts of conversion by a trustee in relation to their failure to properly account for monies received on behalf of a client.
The duo who are alleged to have defrauded their client of $120,740 between September and December 2017 appeared before Magistrate Lisiate Fotofili.
Mr Titoko is also charged with perverting the course of justice arising from an attempt to prevent the client from continuing a complaint to the Legal Practitioners Unit.
“The State filed the amended charge and made an application for the matter to be transferred to the Lautoka High Court due to the seriousness of the offence,” the ODPP stated.
“The Court ordered the State to file a formal application for the case to be transferred to the Lautoka High Court.”
The case has been adjourned to June 18 and bail has been extended for both the accused persons.
