Former FijiFirst MP cops custodial sentence

Former FijiFirst MP Vijendra Prakash will spend at least 22 months in prison.

He was sentenced by the Anti-Corruption Division of the High Court in Suva today.

Prakash was charged by the Fiji Independent Commission Against Corruption (FICAC) with one count of giving false information to a public servant and one count of obtaining a financial advantage.

FICAC alleged he falsely stated his permanent place of residence in the MP declaration form to former Secretary General to Parliament Viniana Namosimalua.

This false declaration caused her to pay him $33,670 between August 2019 and March 2020 while he was an MP.

High Court judge Justice Dr Thushara Kumarage handed Prakash an aggregate sentence of 36 months imprisonment.

Twenty-eight months are to be served in custody, with a non parole period of 22 months.

The balance of eight months is suspended for five years.