Bainimarama says “why should I listen to people like Chaudhry”

Prime Minister Voreqe Bainimarama says “why should I listen to people like Chaudhry” when asked on calls by Fiji Labour Party Leader Mahendra Chaudhry for Attorney General Aiyaz Sayed-Khaiyum to step down pending the outcome of investigations in a bombing incident in 1987.

Chaudhry had said one would also expect a statement from the Prime Minister's Office on a criminal investigation involving his senior minister.

When asked on calls for him to step down, Sayed-Khaiyum says “follow the due process – I have told you this already”

Malani was charged by FICAC in June and filed Police complaint in July

By: Vijay Narayan, Dhanjay Deo, Manoa Dawaibalavu

Questions are arising on why Veronica Malani has come out 33 years after two bombing incidents in 1987 to file a complaint against the Attorney General, Aiyaz Sayed-Khaiyum and whether she took this action after she was charged by FICAC.

Police say they cannot say anything when asked on whether they had made an assessment that it is a revenge complaint by Malani.

We have asked Malani the question on why file the complaint after 33 years and are now waiting for her response.

Malani has alleged that Police had already told the President’s Office that she has filed a revenge complaint. However Police have told Fijivillage they will not comment on this.

Malani who is a former employee of the Land Transport Authority was charged with two counts of Obtaining Financial Advantage and General Dishonesty – Causing a Loss by FICAC in June this year. She filed the Police complaint against Sayed-Khaiyum in July this year.

It is alleged that while employed as the Manager Road Safety and Education at LTA, Malani approved Accountable Advance claims made under the names of two other employees of LTA and as a result, obtained financial advantages of $1925 for herself and $250 for the second accused in October 2017.

FICAC had said Malani's actions are further alleged to have caused a total loss of $2,240 to LTA.

Acting Commissioner of Police Rusiate Tudravu says investigations will not be swayed by speculation or comments against the processes as they are mindful of their actions as it will ultimately impact the outcome of legal proceedings if any.

He also says the earlier assurances given on the conduct of the investigations has not changed.

The Acting Commissioner says investigators have communicated with the Investigating Officer in the 1987 bombing cases who confirmed investigating three bombing cases where two persons were subsequently charged and produced in court.

Tudravu says investigators are trying to determine if the report lodged by Malani is linked to the same allegations and reports lodged in 1987 since the matter was already investigated and dealt with in court.

Veronica Malani has also delivered a letter to the Prime Minister, calling on Sayed-Khaiyum to step down to ensure a neutral investigation is carried out. She also raised the question on why Sayed-Khaiyum gave a statement to Police when he should have been caution interviewed.

Malani has given her statement with her father Ratu Filimoni Ralogaivau and her brother, and alleges that the two bombing incidents relate to Ralogaivau and his family targeted after he joined the Rabuka administration after the 1987 coup. Ratu Filimoni was part of the late Bavadra led government and had joined Rabuka’s caretaker government after the coup.

Malani alleges she saw the person who came in a car and threw a package into their driveway on October 18th 1987 that instantly exploded and seriously injured her and her mother in 1987. She says she was 14 years old at the time and had suffered serious burns and injuries. Her mother had also suffered injuries.

She alleges the bombing incidents occurred on October 17th and 18th 1987.

Malani has said in her letter to the Acting Police Commissioner that she is a victim in this case, not a suspect.