Three people who allegedly breached the False Information Act 2016 were denied bail by the Ba Magistrates Court this afternoon.
The three have been charged with a count each of making false representations in order to obtain a benefit.
34 year old Maleli Nawaqavonovono, 68 year old Sanaila Qoro and 29 year old Istisaq Ali are alleged to have provided false information to a government representative to benefit from the Help for Home Initiative by the government.
Nawaqavonovono of Lautoka allegedly told the government officer that the land on which his house is belongs to him.
However, later the title of the land was found to be under his father’s name.
Nawaqavonovono applied for 7 thousand dollars assistance under the Help for Home Initiative.
68 year old Qoro on the other hand allegedly applied for 7 thousand dollars assistance for his farmhouse and not the house he resides in.
However, Qoro argued in the court that he did not purchase any material from the hardware shop.
Investigating Officer Inspector Aiyaz Ali told the court that Qoro was given the Help for Home card after he allegedly gave false information to the government representative.
He was arrested this morning while he was trying to purchase materials from a hardware shop in Ba.
Istisaq Ali of Clopcott street in Ba also gave false information by stating that the land where his house is belonged to him.
Investigations revealed the land belonged to Ali’s father.
Ali applied for $1500 dollars assistance.
Objecting to bail, police prosecutor Venu Singh told the court that the matter is of national interest and is a serious offense.
Maleli Nawaqavonovono will be produced in the Lautoka court on Monday while Magistrate Solomone Naivalu remanded Qoro and Ali until the of 6th June.