The former acting field statistician from the Fiji Bureau of Statistics pleaded guilty yesterday to charges at the Suva Magistrates Court.

Kelera Nokelevu appeared before Chief Magistrate Usaia Ratuvili yesterday charged with one count each of obtaining a financial advantage and using forged documents.

She is charged by the Fiji Independent Commission Against Corruption (FICAC).

On the first count, it is alleged that Nokelevu between November 1, 2015, and December 31, 2015, in Suva, engaged in a conduct namely falsifying imprest receipts from the journal voucher’s No. 725 and 734, for hire of RSL 299 and LT 299. As a result of that conduct she allegedly obtained a financial advantage in a sum of $1588 from the Fiji Bureau of Statistics, knowing that she was not eligible to receive that financial advantage.

On the second count, it is alleged that Nokelevu between November 1, 2015, and December 31, 2015, in Suva, used documents that she knew to be false, namely imprest receipts from the journal voucher’s No. 725 and 734, for the hire of RSL 299 and LT 299 amounting to $1588. This allegedly with the intent to dishonestly induce the Chief Statistician in his capacity as a public official to accept it as genuine and as a result of that acceptance dishonestly obtained a gain.

Nokelevu had waived her right to counsel and informed the court that she was remorseful and regretful when she pleaded guilty to both counts.

Chief Magistrate Ratuvili adjourned the matter to December 3 for the summary of facts to be read and sentencing.

Edited by Jonathan Bryce

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