Fiji civil servants sacked over corruption charges

Wednesday, 5 July 2006, 1:49 pm
Press Release: Radio New Zealand International

Two Fiji civil servants sacked over corruption charges

Fiji’s Public Service Commission has sacked two senior civil servants for corruption and breaches of the public service code of conduct.

The conservator of forests, Laiakini Jikoibau, was sacked after he was found guilty on 11 of 17 charges of accepting bribes and gifts in cash or kind to allow illegal logging in a protected forest.

Jikoibau was also found guilty on three charges of failing to declare his interest in the construction of fish ponds on his land using funding from the government’s affirmative action programme for indigenous Fijians.

The principal accounts officer at the Government Supplies Department, Inia Waqa, was sacked after he was found guilty on 13 charges of breaching the public service code of conduct and the Finance Act in the award of tenders involving large sums of money.

The offences took place while Waqa was acting as the Deputy Controller of Government Supplies.

The chief executive of the PSC, Anare Jale, says the commission will not condone acts of corruption and breaches of the public service code of conduct.

© Scoop Media

RNZ

New Zealand's public broadcaster, providing comprehensive NZ news and current affairs, specialist audio features and documentaries.

Radio New Zealand is a Crown entity established under the Radio New Zealand Act 1995. Radio New Zealand News are vital elements in our programming, providing impartial news and information to New Zealanders every day. Radio New Zealand (RNZ) provides listeners with exciting and independent radio programmes in accordance with the Radio New Zealand Charter.

Contact RNZ

• Website - www.radionz.co.nz
• Twitter - @rnz_news
• Facebook
• Link - Contact RNZ