Two first-time offenders have been sentenced to 30 months imprisonment each by a court in Suva for deceiving people seeking housing assistance and obtaining over $1000 for personal use.
Magistrate Jioji Boseiqawa told Shivneel Kumar and Sonam Lara that the custodial sentences were meant to deter such behaviour in the future.
Sentencing them to 30 months imprisonment each, Magistrates Jioji Boseiqawa told Shivneel Kumar and Sonam Lara that custodial sentences were to deter such behaviour.
The court heard that between 1 August 2021 and 30 September 2021, they used false identities on Facebook, claiming Kumar was a Ministry of Housing Staff, and obtained FJD$1,345 from unsuspecting individuals intending to apply for the Ministry of Housing and Community Development First Ownership Initiative.
Kumar was convicted of one (1) count of Obtaining Financial Advantage by Deception and Lata, and one (1) count of Aiding and Abetting Obtaining a Financial Advantage by Deception.
Kumar had reposted an advertisement by the Ministry of Housing and Community Development for housing assistance using the name “Kissna Kumar” on Facebook. He passed himself off as an employee of the Ministry. He was sent money. Lata was aware of Kumar’s doings.
