Director of Immigration and Manager Passports suspended pending full investigations

The Director of Immigration and Manager Passports have been suspended pending investigations at the Department of Immigration.

This has been confirmed by Minister for Immigration, Pio Tikoduadua.

Tikoduadua has offered to temporarily step aside from his role as Minister pending the outcome of an investigation to address the serious matter that has come to his attention involving the possible unauthorised issuance of passports to the children of individuals associated with the Grace Road human rights allegations.

Tikoduadua says these passports appear to have been issued without his knowledge, without the approval of the Permanent Secretary, and without authorisation from senior management within the Department of Immigration.

He says if confirmed, this constitutes a significant breach of their protocols and raises serious concerns about the internal oversight mechanisms within the department.

When asked on whether he has received a response from Prime Minister, Sitiveni Rabuka on the offer to temporarily step aside, Tikoduadua says he will meet the Prime Minister upon his return from Australia.

Rabuka has confirmed to fijivillage News that he will wait for Tikoduadua's return.

He says in the meantime, Tikoduadua has offered to ‘step aside’ to allow ‘free investigations’ to proceed; and he will await his return to give him his response to that.