Attorney General Aiyaz Sayed-Khaiyum has stressed that former Prime Minister and Fiji Labour Party leader Mahendra Chaudhry was never taken in by the military nor was he held in custody all night.
Speaking at a press conference after charges were laid against Chaudhry yesterday, Sayed-Khaiyum said these reports were misleading.
Sayed-Khaiyum also clarified that this investigation against Chaudhry is different from the inquiry that was held by government in 2008 as police investigated this matter after a complaint by the Reserve Bank of Fiji.
Chaudhry appeared in the Suva Magistrates Court this afternoon charged with 12 counts of alleged money laundering, tax evasion and not declaring foreign currency.
Looking at the charges laid against Chaudhry:
Count one deals with Chaudhry allegedly failing to surrender foreign currency involving $AUS1.5 million between 1st November 2000 to 23rd July this year.
Count two also deals with Chaudhry allegedly failing to declare $1.5 million in Australian currency by not following the proper channels and failing to follow proper procedures as required by the Reserve Bank of Fiji and allegedly investing in certain institutions without confirming with the Reserve Bank of Fiji and without following proper procedures.
Chaudhry is also charged with five counts of alleged money laundering.
The charges relate to events dating back to November 1st 2000 where it is alleged that Chaudhry held interests in Australia and New Zealand.
A number of bank account numbers where Chaudhry is alleged to have kept this money in various banks was also revealed in court this afternoon and the amounts involved $400,000 and $378,000 Australian.
One of these charges involved Chaudhry allegedly giving $50,000 Australian as a gift to his daughter who is a resident of Australia and allegedly not following proper procedures under the Reserve Bank of Fiji and Fiji laws and a number of alleged false statements made by Chaudhry and failing to declare certain amounts.
Chaudhry is also charged with three counts of making false statements where it is alleged that he failed to declare his investments in Australia and New Zealand in the FIRCA tax forms.
The 12 charges were read to Chaudhry and he said he understood the charges however no plea was taken.
Chaudhry handed in his passport and has been released on strict bail conditions which include that he is to report to the Suva Point Police Station every Thursday, he was to pay $1000 surety and was ordered not to interfere with any of the witnesses.
Mahendra Chaudhry will now appear in the Suva High Court next Friday, July 30th.
Story by: Vijay Narayan, Paradise Tabucala and Roneel Lal
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Chaudhry arrest reports misleading - AG
