Former driving instructor, Sandeep Anand Reddy, has been sentenced to two years’ imprisonment, of which 12 months will be served in a correctional facility.
The remaining 12 months have been suspended for a period of three years.
Reddy appeared before Suva Magistrate Shageeth Somaratne, charged with one count of false or misleading documents and two counts of obtaining financial advantage.
The Court heard that in 2022, Reddy produced a false taxi permit and a provisional approval letter, purportedly issued by the Land Transport Authority (LTA), to the victim.
It was established that Reddy obtained $650 from the complainant by issuing the fraudulent taxi permit and a further $300 by falsely claiming that he would process the lodging of the permit.
Magistrate Somaratne noted that the total sum of $950 has not been recovered and that no restitution has been made to the victim.
In sentencing, the Court acknowledged that the maximum penalty for the offence of false or misleading documents is five years’ imprisonment, while the prescribed penalty for obtaining financial advantage is ten years’ imprisonment.
However, a reduction of two years was applied in light of mitigating factors, including Reddy being a first-time offender and the submission of character references attesting to his good character.
The defence sought a suspended sentence; however, Magistrate Somaratne declined the request, noting the increasing prevalence of individuals impersonating agents of the Land Transport Authority to defraud members of the public seeking taxi permits.
The Court emphasised that Reddy had acted as an agent and unlawfully obtained $950 from the victim for a taxi permit that was ultimately fraudulent.
Magistrate Somaratne further stated that a fully suspended sentence would send the wrong message to society, suggesting that the Court condones such conduct and is prepared to exercise undue leniency in similar cases.
Reddy has 28 days to file an appeal.
He was represented by Elenoro Savou of KS Law, while FICAC State Counsel Ravinesh Lal appeared for the prosecution.
