Director of the Overseas Chinese Service Centre in Fiji and the owner of Yue Lai Hotel, Zhao Fugang has categorically denied the allegations levelled against him in a United States Department of State statement.
Speaking through his lawyers, Fugang says the allegations against him are unsubstantiated.
He says before the statement was published, no one from the United States Embassy or the Department of State contacted him.
He adds he was not told of any allegation and was given no opportunity to respond.
Fugang says he has not been questioned by any Fijian authority about these matters, and no charge has been laid against him.
He says he has written to the United States Embassy in Suva to send him full particulars in relation to the allegations made against him.
Fugang says he respects the laws of Fiji and will cooperate fully with any lawful inquiry by the Fijian authorities.
The U.S. State Department has publicly designated Zhao Fugang for his alleged involvement in significant corruption on behalf of China-based actors.
The Department says this action renders Fugang and his immediate family members generally ineligible for entry into the United States.
It says Fugang allegedly abused his public position by paying bribes to Fijian citizens to advance the interests of China-based government, business and criminal actors.
The Department adds that his alleged actions constituted significant corruption and adversely affected U.S. interests in Fiji.
It says the United States will hold accountable those who abuse their positions for personal gain and continue to fight corruption that fuels drug trafficking, enables transnational criminal organisations and threatens U.S. interests around the world.
We have sent questions to the Chinese Embassy in Fiji and are yet to receive a response.
We are also trying to get responses from Minister for Policing Ioane Naivalurua, Minister for Defence Pio Tikoduadua, Acting Attorney General Siromi Turaga, and the Police.
