May 9, 2011
Trio jailed over $650,000 theft from vessel
By Elena Chong
THREE men behind the theft of 1 million Fiji dollars (S$650,000) belonging to the Reserve Bank of Fiji were jailed on Monday.
Abdul Quadir Katu Miah, 39, a time-keeper and container-checker, pleaded guilty to five of nine charges and was jailed a total of five years.
He had conspired with Azhar Abdul Shukor and Musa Mohmad to steal the money on board mv Pacific Voyager, berthed at Jurong Port, last Aug 19 (2010).
Lashing foreman Azhar, 37, who entered the vessel with Musa and moved the FJD 1 million in FJD 20 denominations, was given four years and nine months after pleading guilty to four of six charges.
Musa, 41, also a lashing foreman, was jailed for four years on two of four charges.
The court heard that a container with 127 cases of FJD 202 million new notes was loaded onto Pacific Voyager on Aug 19 and its doors sealed.
