A former public official and a former private company executive who are facing corruption-related charges pleaded not guilty at the Suva Magistrates Court today.
Aliki Bilitaki Tuimakutu and Ajesh Kumar Sharma were charged by the Fiji Independent Commission Against Corruption (FICAC) in July this year for one count of receiving a corrupt benefit and giving corrupt benefits to public officials.
It is alleged that while serving with the Rural Housing Unit at the Commissioner Northern Division office, Mr Tuimakutu received return air tickets for his wife and himself with cash benefits worth $1,238.50.
Mr Sharma is alleged to have offered the above advantages in his capacity as Manager Sales and Company Secretary for Buildex Marketing Limited in order to influence Mr Tuimakutu’s official duties as a public official between January and November 2014.
The matter was adjourned to November 17, 2020.
