Businessman, Feroz Jan Mohammed who was jailed in 2015 for a scam involving 3.1 million dollars has filed to withdraw his appeal against his conviction and sentence in the Fiji Court of Appeal.
Mohammed appeared before Justice William Calanchini and Justice Suresh Chandra today.
He indicated to the court that he had made the decision voluntarily and that he received legal advice before making the decision.
When asked by Justice Calanchini why he intended to abandon the appeal, Mohammed said he only has 1 year and 1 month left before he is eligible for parole.
The court will make a ruling on the matter.
High Court Judge, Justice Paul Madigan sentenced Mohammed to 8 years imprisonment with a non‑parole period of 5 years in 2015.
Mohammed and his company ‑ TF Jan Bulldozing Company Limited had obtained a financial advantage amounting to $3.1 million by receiving money the company was not entitled to.
It received the money after submitting false invoices and circumventing the proper procedures concerning the processing of payments.
There were 14 bogus claims made by the company.
The payments were made from the funds allocated for the upgrading of roads in the Nausori Highlands.
Mohammed is represented by lawyer David Toganivalu while FICAC is represented by Francis Puleiwai.
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