A former manager of Nakorotubu District School has been sentenced to two years’ imprisonment after being convicted of obtaining a financial advantage through the misuse of Free Education Grant (FEG) funds.

Kelevi Salauca was sentenced today by Resident Magistrate Timoci Qalinauci at the Rakiraki Magistrates Court after being convicted on 29 June 2026.

The case involved four cheques worth a total of $3,700 that were withdrawn from the school’s Free Education Grant account between 1 and 31 December 2017.

The court found that Salauca failed to follow the required procedures governing the use of the grant, with the withdrawals made without the approval of the School Management Committee or the necessary quotations. It also found that he was solely responsible for handling the four cheques.

In delivering the sentence, Resident Magistrate Qalinauci noted that the offence carries a maximum penalty of 10 years’ imprisonment. The court considered Salauca’s status as a first-time offender, his partial admissions and the fact that the matter had been before the court for almost five years.

Salauca was ordered to serve 15 months in prison, while the remaining nine months of his sentence has been suspended for three years.

He was represented by the Legal Aid Commission, while FICAC State Counsel Lavenia Ravuikadavu and Immanuel Turaga prosecuted the matter.