There is confirmation today by Police that Fiji Independent Commission Against Corruption is now looking into the statement made by Laisenia Qarase during a campaign meeting in Davuilevu.
In this campaign meeting attended by 80 people, Qarase had claimed that the candidate numbers in the ballot paper will start from 135 because it is connected to verse 135 of the Quran which talks about justice.
Qarase then went on to claim to the people sitting in the room that this is Aiyaz Sayed‑Khaiyum’s plan to fulfill his dream.
Electoral Commission Chairman, Chen Bunn Young had earlier said that there is no hidden agenda in choosing the number 135 to start the candidate numbers on the ballot paper of the 2014 general elections.
While saying that they are investigating comments made by Qarase about the issue, Young clarified that the number was chosen at random.
The FijiFirst has also called on the Police and the Electoral Commission to take action in relation to comments made by Qarase.
FijiFirst Leader, Voreqe Bainimarama had said that this statement shows the desperation of Qarase, a man who cannot stand for elections, and his party SODELPA.
The FijiFirst said Qarase’s absurd and unintelligent statement can be quickly dismissed by a simple Google search that will show that the word justice appears several times in several chapters and several verses in the Quran like in many other religious texts including the Bible.
The FijiFirst said it is quite obvious that SODELPA is now resorting to xenophobia and religious discrimination.
Police Chief of Operations, ACP Rusiate Tudravu has told Fijivillage that no complaint has been lodged with police however he says that he has been briefed that FICAC is looking into the matter.
Meanwhile, FICAC said that they can neither confirm no deny any details pertaining to any investigation that FICAC may or may not be undertaking.
Last night on Straight Talk, the SODELPA officials requested that we do not play the Qarase recording of the campaign meeting as Police and FICAC are looking into the matter.
SODELPA is yet to make further comments.
