The former employees of the Public Works Department have been handed an additional three-year sentence for defrauding the government.

Vaciseva Lagai and Ana Laqere were charged with one count each of abuse of office and two counts each of causing a loss by the Fiji Independent Commission against Corruption in 2014.

The duo had earlier pleaded not guilty but changed their plea and was convicted and sentenced accordingly.

High Court Judge Justice Chamath Morais described the systematic breaches as a serious breach of the trust of their employer which involved a significant amount of public funds.

The Judge emphasized that a harsh sentence was necessary to act as a deterrent to others who may contemplate engaging in similar acts of corruption.

Justice Morais added that the sentence would be served together with their current sentences with Lagai serving 8 years and Laqere 10 years.

The two facilitated the processing of false payments to Mass Stationery Supplies Limited between January and March 2010 and caused a combined loss of $10,557 to PWD.