A FORMER marine checker was handed a suspended sentence by the Labasa Magistrates Court.
Eric Gregory Hussein was sentenced to eight months imprisonment suspended for two years by Magistrate Tomasi Bainivalu.
Hussein was ordered to pay back the $2796.50 he collected from 32 boat operators and two boat owners, which he used fraudulently.
In his sentencing, Mr Bainivalu said Hussein's offence was a deliberate attempt to circumvent the Public Service Commission rules and regulations.
With a starting point of 17 months Magistrate Bainivalu reduced Hussein's sentence to eight months because of an early guilty plea, mitigating factors and being a first-time offender.
Magistrate Bainivalu also took into account Hussein's family and his willingness to repay the money.
He ordered Hussein to repay the money by monthly installments until the entire amount was repaid.