A former employee of I-Taukei Land Trust Board charged with 39 counts of Money Laundering reappeared in the Suva Magistrates Court today.
52-year-old Savenaca Batibawa was released on bail yesterday by Magistrate Shageeth Somaratne.
It is alleged that between January 2009 and September 2012 whilst being employed at TLTB, Batibawa laundered more than $300,000 through his and third party bank accounts.
DPP lawyer, Mehzabeen Khan objected to bail on the grounds that he is facing serious charges and there is a risk that he may not turn up in court on the next date.
However, Defence lawyer Tobia Ravuniwa surrendered Batibawa’s passport in court and said his two cousins will be his sureties.
Magistrate Somaratne then decided to release him on $5,000 cash bail with strict conditions.
The case has been transferred to the High Court and will be called on May 1st.
The defense will respond to the State’s application in the High Court to have this matter consolidated with other related matters.
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