Non agri tools bought under farming scheme
Thursday October 05, 2006

Former Agriculture permanent secretary Peniasi Kunatuba.

The High Court in Suva heard that $11,000 worth of tyre repairing equipment was sent to Lau during the height of the $29 million agricultural scam.

This was revealed during the trial of former Agriculture Ministry permanent secretary Peniasi Kunatuba who is charged for abuse of office and the defrauding of the Fiji Government.

Kunatuba in his caution interview that was read out by police investigator Inspector Raj Kumar, said he was surprised after learning that such a large amount was spent on the items requested by a single person that were not related to agriculture.

Kunatuba also expressed concern over the fact that tyre repairing equipment was sent to Lau.

"It has no economic sense," he said in his interview adding that no single person should have been allowed to receive so much money upon a request.

The court also heard that payment vouchers from hardware supplier RC Manubhai Limited did not match the delivery receipts that were seized by police officers during investigators.

Kunatuba in his caution interview told investigators that his approvals of the various local purchasing orders were based on request letters and quotations from the good suppliers.

However he said after his signature on the LPO's, additional goods were added by different persons.

This, Kunatuba alleged was to hide the discrepancies in the payment invoices submitted from suppliers like RC Manubhai while the actual delivery dockets showed that lesser amount of goods were delivered.

He also alleged that sometimes payment vouchers were resubmitted to seek funds from LPO's already paid for.

The trial continues.