The Fiji Occasions » Nadi church minister granted bail

A forty five-year-old Nadi church minister who was produced within the Suva Magistrates Courtroom for the theft of over $1.5 million was informed he might proceed preaching so long as he didn’t intervene with witnesses.

Joeli Sovaki was produced earlier than Justice of the Peace Sherlyn Kiran charged with one rely of theft.

It was alleged that between Could 1 and June 30, 2018, Mr Sovaki dishonestly appropriated $1,550,900 from the Financial institution of the South Pacific with the intention of completely depriving the financial institution of this cash.

Police mentioned he allegedly offered two international visa debit card particulars to the financial institution, enabling the switch of seven fraudulent transactions right into a regulation agency’s working belief account.

The police prosecutor objected to bail on the grounds of the scale of the sum and there being nil restoration.

She informed the court docket Mr Sovaki was a primary offender with no pending circumstances.

Mr Sovaki’s lawyer mentioned he had no earlier file of breaching bail situations.

He mentioned Mr Sovaki had a medical situation which may worsen if he was to be remanded.

The police prosecutor mentioned that if bail was granted, his journey paperwork be surrendered to the court docket.

Ms Kiran granted Mr Sovaki bail within the sum of $2000 non-cash, and an analogous non-cash bond on his sureties.

He was ordered to remain at a hard and fast tackle, to not reoffend or intervene with witnesses whereas on bail, and to report back to Namaka Police Station each Friday between 8am and 4pm.

The court docket additionally issued a cease departure order.

When he requested if he might proceed preaching whereas on bail Ms Kiran mentioned he might so long as he didn’t intervene with witnesses.

The matter can be referred to as once more on December 23 for plea.