28/08/2026
The Fiji Women's Rights Movement (FWRM) strongly urges that the prison sentence handed to former Fijian Holdings Limited CEO Mohammed Nouzab Fareed not be reduced any further.
Fareed was convicted on two counts of indecent assault for offenses committed against a subordinate female employee in his office. He received a sentence of 8 months and 22 days, with a portion suspended. He has announced plans to appeal the sentence as excessive.
While FWRM respects the independence of the judiciary and legal avenues, its leadership emphasizes that the power imbalance is crystal clear and that the current sentence is already lenient given the severity of the abuse of power. It says that a deterrent sentence is sorely needed for other sexual harassers in the workplace.
"The conviction and sentence offer a chance to finally rebuild my life and find a sense of normalcy," the complainant shared with the Fiji Women's Rights Movement (FWRM), which has supported her for the past seven years through a senior legal advisor. "The prospect of any sentence reduction is deeply distressing to contemplate."
Nalini Singh, Executive Director says that "A further reduction would be a slap in the face not only for the complainant, but for all Fiji women in the workplace. The criminal serves some 8 months; the complainant effectively “served” 7 years. Seeking justice must never become another punishment for the woman who survived."
Annie Reymond Rogers, Deputy Board Chair, stated that, "If the sentence is reduced, what message does that send to every woman in Fiji who experiences violence or harassment in the workplace? That it’s okay to get away with it?"
The FWRM says that Fareed’s guilt has been clearly established, and accountability rests firmly on the perpetrator and the corporate environment that allowed the behavior to persist. The 7-year wait for justice involved profound emotional trauma and extraordinary courage by the complainant. The courts must signal zero tolerance for workplace sexual harassment and abuse of executive authority.
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For media queries please contact FWRM Communications Officer Serelisoni Moceica on 2136547 or This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.