Former spokesperson of the Ministry of Works, Transport and Public Utilities, Sainiana Radrodro’s trial will take place in November this year.
Radrodro who is charged with 11 counts of obtaining a financial advantage by deception appeared in the Suva Magistrates Court this morning.
Magistrate, Waleen George also fixed the pre-trial conference date which will take place on the 15th of next month.
It is alleged that between May 2010 and June 2011 Radrodro obtained financial advantage by falsely stating that the Minister for Works, Transport and Public Utilities had requested $9,560 on more than 11 separate occasions.
Radrodro’s trial will take place from the 9th to the 20th of November. Source: Fijivillage News
A former Ministry of Health employee and a businessman have been charged with corruption-related offences by the Fiji Independent Commission against Corruption.
Semisi Havea, the former Ministry of Health Executive Officer – Central and Eastern Division is charged with one count of Conspiracy to Defraud and three counts of General Dishonesty.
Businessman, Nilson Nilesh Narayan is charged with one count of Conspiracy to Defraud.
The offences allegedly took place between November 2012 and January 2013 relating to the servicing and repairs of government vehicles.
Havea has been released on bail while Narayan is in custody.
A decision on Narayan’s bail application will be known this afternoon. Source: FBC News;
Update: Bail granted for duo.
Fijileaks: What about the former FijiFirst Party's Minister of Health Neil Sharma and his businessmen associates who stand accused of various crimes in FICAC's two separate investigations? Is it because Aiyaz Khaiyum will have to testify against Neil Sharma, whom he had selected as FFP candidate for the 2014 general election?
"Our preliminary investigations has found that Dr. Neil Sharma, Mr. Vashu Devan and Mr. Arveen Chandra have misled the Acting Prime Minister/ Prime Minister [Aiyaz Sayed Khaiyum] and engaged in corrupt conduct in relation to their manipulation of tender process in order to ensure that the tender is awarded to Mr. Vashu Devan’s Company." - FICAC
To: Deputy Commissioner
Conducted By: (Fijileaks is withholding the name___________________________
Date: January - March 2012
Fact Sheet
The Corrupt conduct involving manipulation of tender process, release of confidential document after close and evaluation of tender and undisclosed conflict of interest are the key elements of the corrupt conduct.
FICAC FINDINGS
1. Our preliminary investigations has found that Dr. Neil Sharma, Mr. Vashu Devan and Mr. Arveen Chandra have misled the Acting Prime Minister/ Prime Minister [Aiyaz Sayed Khaiyum] and engaged in corrupt conduct in relation to their manipulation of tender process in order to ensure that the tender is awarded to Mr. Vashu Devan’s Company.
2. On or about 19th October, 2011 Honorable Minister knowingly and improperly released confidential tender document to Mr. Vashu Devan (owner of Hospital Engineering and Consultancy Limited “ Hospineer”) which he knew he had no right to have but which he thought might be of benefit to him. The document included summary of price analysis for all the bidders which was prepared by __________ and released by the Minister in the presence of __________
3. We also found that Honorable Minister colluded and released confidential tender information after the close and evaluation of the bid to Mr. Vashu Devan. Dr. Neil Sharma engaged in corrupt conduct in relation to improper release of confidential tender documentation and when all avenues he resorted to were exhausted in awarding the tender to Mr. Vashu Devan, he recommended awarding tender to Mr. Vashu Devan’s company on application of “Waiver”.
4. Honorable Minister was in direct contact with Mr. Iven [email protected]. Mr.Iven Liu visited Fiji in May, 2011 and met with Honorable Minister. On 1st August Mr. Iven Liu enquires about the tender information.
5. On 2nd August, 2011, Dr. Neil Sharma notifies Mr. Iven Liu and Mr. Apolosi Vosanibola that Quote “Dr. Eloni Tora, Director Hospital Services will be in China for over ten days in mid August to undertake various options on medical supplies, equipment and consumables for our Ministry of Health. Kindly liaise with him so he can inspect some of your factories and further review our laboratory needs”.Unquote
6. FICAC has established that Dr. Tora’s visit China was purely to visit the factories in concurrence with Mr. Iven Liu and view options on purchasing direct from the manufacturer; however, purchase from the source had never materialized as the order was raised to Mr. Vashu’s company “Hospital Engineering and Consultancy Limited.
7. At the time of application of waiver, it is established that Dr. Neil Sharma falsely claimed that they have sourced alternative equipment from China and as a result, Honorable Minister misled the Acting Minister for Finance. Scrutiny of correspondence from Mr. Iven Liu- (In-Vitro Diagnostic Products Asia Pacific) Shenzhen Mindray Bio Medical Electronics Co., Limited) reveal that the manufacturer had been waiting on to the tender information.
8. We found that the Chinese manufacturer had visited Fiji and met with the Ministry of Health officials to look at the possibility of supplying the equipments.
9. Summary of evidence reveal that Honorable Minister corruptly colluded with Mr. Vashu Devan and Mr. Arveen Chandra and possibly Mr. Aplosi Vosanibola who had signed the letter addressed to Director, Fiji Procurement Office. The letter states consumables figure of F$256,547.27 for Hospineer. Mr. Vosanibola must explain as to how the figure was derived when in the initial bid it was reflected as $39,000.00 and as to why he had used the name “Hospineer”
10. Telephone call and email messages scrutiny reveal that Dr. Neil Sharma, Mr. Vashu Devan and Mr. Arveen Chandra had been in constant contact and Mr. Arveen Chandra sharing dream that the tender is awarded to Hospineer. (Hospital Engineering Consultancy Limited).
11. Local Purchase orders issued to Samabula Drug Store and Stevero Limited approved by the Minister is unethical, abuse of office and undisclosed conflict of interest. Mr. Rohit Kesho Rambissessar at the time was an appointed Consultant/ Director of FPBS.
12. It is also established that the Consultant /Director has colluded with the Minister in seeking approval to purchase vitals locally. Upon receipt of the approval LPO’s were issued to his own company names.
FICAC Recommendations
1. We strongly recommend that the Honorable Minister Dr. Neil Sharma, Mr. Vashu Devan and Mr. Arveen Chandra be charged for collusion, conspiracy, abuse of office and official corruption.
1.1 Dr. Neil Sharma and Mr. Vashu Devan engaged in corrupt conduct by concurring release of confidential summary of price analysis which Mr. Vashu Devan knowingly accepted and used it to his advantage.
2. Honorable Minister Dr. Neil Sharma and Mr. Rohit Kesho Rambissessar both engaged in corrupt conduct in relation to LPO’S issued to Mr. Rohit Rambissessar’s companies {Samabula Drug Store and Stevro Limited} The request submitted by Mr. Rohit Rambissessar to Honorable Minister Dr. Neil Sharma who approved the purchase knowing that Mr. Rohit Rambissessar at the time was an appointed consultant and owner of these companies.
2.1 Mr. Rohit Rambissessar and Dr Neil Sharma had been close associate for sometime. As a result, both of them have knowingly and deliberately abused their authority.
3. Acting Chief Pharmacist Mr. Apolosi Vosanibola may be a party to the conspiracy and as such is one of the suspects.