Soldier to spend three years in prison

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Staff Sergeant Iowane Naivalurua Tulele being escorted by a RFMF Military Police after his sentencing yesterday. Picture: JOVESA NAISUA

THE Republic of Fiji Military Forces Staff Sergeant Iowane Naivalurua Tulele, charged with 32 separate counts of obtaining financial advantage by deception, was sentenced to three years imprisonment by the court martial at the Queen Elizabeth Barracks in Nabua, Suva yesterday.

The sentences would run concurrently.

Staff Sgt Tulele would be discharged from the RFMF after serving his term in prison.

Judge Commander Netani Sukanaivalu said the sentence would send out a warning to all military personnel not to indulge themselves in such acts in the future.

He said there were no attempts by the accused to repay the public funds he took from the RFMF.

“The sentence given today (yesterday) is to deter similar offenders in the future,” Commander Sukanaivalu said.

It is alleged that between October 8, 2015 and February, 11, 2016 at Berkley Crescent in Suva, Staff Sgt Tulele was making deductions from 32 RFMF personnel by deception which amounted to $54,630.

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