The Suva High Court has ruled in favour of the State, ordering the forfeiture of FJD $52,312.24 from the bank account of former military officer Ledua Biuvuli Matai.

The funds were declared tainted property linked to a wider fraud investigation involving over $467,000.

The decision was handed down by Justice Chaitanya Lakshman, following an uncontested affidavit filed by the Fiji Independent Commission Against Corruption (FICAC).

The case involved allegations that Mr. Matai approved 76 fraudulent payments from the Republic of Fiji Military Forces (RFMF) to a company connected to his wife and daughter-in-law.

The funds are to be transferred to the State’s Forfeited Assets Fund.

Meanwhile, Mr. Matai and his wife are also facing separate criminal proceedings related to the same case at the Suva Magistrates’ Court.