TWO former sales and marketing officers of the Fiji Forest Industries charged with corruption-related offences have been issued stop departure orders.
The duo appeared before Magistrate Cama Tuberi charged with one count each of abuse of office, obtaining a financial advantage and corrupt transactions with agents by the Fiji Independent Commission Against Corruption (FICAC).
Manwar Buksh and Salend Chetty were alleged to have operated a private business, Tropex Marketing, from within the Fiji Forest Industries premises, diverting commercial business to Tropex Marketing.
It was further alleged that the two men informed potential Fiji Forest Industries customers that there were no timber stocks so that the customers would purchase it from their side business at inflated prices allowing the duo to obtain $119,542.06 between October 2014 and June 2016.
The two allegedly used the “show cause” notice to falsely state that neither of them was operating a side business from within Fiji Forest Industries.
FICAC lawyer Laite Bokini confirmed that the first phase of disclosures were served to the two and informed the court that there was no objection to bail, but requested the court to impose strict bail conditions against the two accused persons.
Resident Magistrate Cama Tuberi released both the accused persons on bail and ordered that they surrender their passports and report to the Labasa Police Station every Saturday.
They will reappear at the Labasa Magistrates Court on July 29.
