A former senior engineer with the Water Authority of Fiji (WAF), Mohammed Sharfrassz Ali, has been sentenced to 18 months in prison for accepting a bribe. The court found that Ali, who worked as the Regional Engineer Bulk at WAF, accepted a Fiji Airways return air ticket to Sydney, Australia, worth $1,430.60 in exchange for performing an act in his capacity as a public servant.
The bribery occurred between March 1st and June 30th, 2017, when Ali made multiple requests for various repair and maintenance items, including clamps, valves, and joints, for several pumps and pipes managed by the Water Authority. These requests resulted in purchase orders being placed by Sphynx Solutions Pte Limited, which ultimately supplied the requested items.
On March 21st, 2017, Ali received the Fiji Airways air ticket from Sphynx Solutions as a reward for his actions.
In addition to his 18-month custodial sentence, Ali was also fined $3,000. If the fine is not paid by June 20, 2025, an additional 300 days will be added to his sentence. Ali was granted 28 days to appeal the conviction or sentence, and a non-parole period of 12 months was ordered.
This case highlights the serious consequences of corruption within public institutions, underlining the importance of accountability in government operations.
