Three assessors in the case of two women charged with money laundering involving almost half a million dollars have returned a guilty opinion in the High Court in Suva.

The opinions were returned when Rosheen Raj and Rine Sorby ap­peared before Justice Salesi Temo yesterday.

Justice Temo will deliver his judg­ment today.

Raj and Sorby are each charged with two counts of money launder­ing.

It is alleged that between June 1, 2006, and February 16, 2011, in Suva, Raj directly or indirectly engaged in transactions of Pacific Theological College as a finance officer for PTC responsible for pre­paring documents in relation to payment of wages, paid herself in excess of her normal salary, a sum of $96,576.86.

It is also alleged that between June 1, 2006, and February 16, 2011, in Suva, Sorby directly or indirect­ly engaged in transactions of Pacif­ic Theological College as a finance officer for PTC responsible for pre­paring documents in relation to the payment of wages, paid herself in excess of her normal salary, a sum of $73,099.95.

It is alleged that between March 1, 2010, and November 30, 2012, in Suva, Raj and Sorby directly or indirectly engaged in transactions of Pacific Theological College as finance officers for PTC altered the cheques payable for various corporate bodies and cashed the cheques, obtaining the total sum of $412, 567.61.

During the trial, Raj had given a sworn evidence while Sorby exer­cised her right to remain silent.

The three assessors after discus­sions and on their free will, found both the accused guilty as charged.

The two accused were remanded in custody.

Edited by Epineri Vula

Feedback: ashna.kumar@fijisun.com.fj