Ben Padarath (right) with FLP leader Mahendra Chaudhry during Chaudhry's tax evasion trial
Suva resident Ben Padarath who was charged by FICAC with one count of giving false information to a public servant has been sentenced to 25 months imprisonment by the Suva Magistrates Court.
The court was told that on 23rd January, 2011, Padarath gave false information via text messages to the Director of Immigration, Nemani Vuniwaqa, intending to cause him to put the name of Paul Freeman on the Immigration Watch List.
Padarath had pleaded guilty to the charge.
While passing the sentence, Magistrate Shagit Somaratne said for someone who is not a first time offender, Padarath should have known better not to waste the time of the court with this case.
Padarath also tried to stow away in 2012.
In his mitigation, Ben Padarath told the court that he was looking after his 70-year-old mother and his children and that he has been an active member of the Christian Mission Fellowship.
A non-parole period of 16 months has also been set. Source: Fijivillage News, 9 March 2016
The court was told that on 23rd January, 2011, Padarath gave false information via text messages to the Director of Immigration, Nemani Vuniwaqa, intending to cause him to put the name of Paul Freeman on the Immigration Watch List.
Padarath had pleaded guilty to the charge.
While passing the sentence, Magistrate Shagit Somaratne said for someone who is not a first time offender, Padarath should have known better not to waste the time of the court with this case.
Padarath also tried to stow away in 2012.
In his mitigation, Ben Padarath told the court that he was looking after his 70-year-old mother and his children and that he has been an active member of the Christian Mission Fellowship.
A non-parole period of 16 months has also been set. Source: Fijivillage News, 9 March 2016
In February 2011, Padarath had claimed that he was beaten up by the military regarding allegations against the Ghanian businessman Freeman
