TWO Fiji Islands Revenue and Customs Authority staff members and nine others have a High Court date after being charged with conspiracy to commit a felony and money laundering.
FIRCA workers Robin Shayam and Sereana Ciluvilakeba were charged by the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions last week and were denied bail when they were presented along with nine others.
No pleas were taken and Magistrate Pamila Ratanayake transferred the matter to the High Court.
The court was informed by the prosecution that it was a high profile case as the investigations were continuing and the money trail was getting bigger.
It is alleged the FIRCA workers knowingly transferred money into the accounts of the people for their own gain.
Shayam and Ciluvilakeba are alleged to have received the money back from the people into whose accounts the money was transferred. Along with the FIRCA workers, a real estate agent, his family and his neighbours have been charged.
Abdul Jamal, Prakash Narayan, Mohammed Nawaz, Razia Aziz, Naizal Raheman, Haizal Raheman, Mohammed Aziz are among the people charged for the alleged scam. Strict bail conditions were set for Shayam and Ciluvilakeba as they were released after being kept in custody over the weekend. The two were ordered not to enter FIRCA premises and not to interfere with ongoing investigations.
The case will be called on August 6 in the High Court.