FICAC has refuted claims by the Fiji Labour Party and has confirmed that Acting Deputy Commissioner, Francis Puleiwai has not been sent on indefinite leave and is in Hong Kong to attend the 8th ICAC Symposium.
FICAC says this is an attempt by the Fiji Labour Party to discredit the work of FICAC and the political will it has been receiving from the coalition Government.
They say it is unfortunate to see a political party attempt to discredit the work of FICAC after the coalition government had vowed its support towards FICAC in Parliament last week.
They reaffirm that under its new leadership it remains independent and all its cases investigated and complaints received or referred to FICAC will follow the due processes and procedures regardless of who is being investigated.
FICAC is also requesting the Fiji Labour Party to retract its statement published on its facebook page and do the proper due diligence in finding out the correct facts before publishing damaging statement as such.
Meanwhile, FLP Leader, Mahendra Chaudhry, in a statement that remains on their facebook page claims Puleiwai has been sent on indefinite leave by the Attorney General, one of several ministers under investigation by FICAC.
He claims this comes at a time when she was investigating complaints referred to her office by the Supervisor of Elections concerning breaches of the Political Parties and the Electoral Acts by cabinet ministers and asks if there a connection.
Chaudhry says that apart from Attorney General Siromi Turaga, they are Minister for Multi-Ethnic Affairs and Sugar Charan Jeath Singh, Deputy Prime Minister and Finance Minister Professor Biman Prasad, Minister for Women, Children and Social Protection Lynda Tabuya, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Trade Manoa Kamikamica, Minister for Education Aseri Radordro and the Minister for iTaukei Affairs Ifereimi Vasu.
He says the Supervisor of Elections had also referred to FICAC complaints against the former President of the FijiFirst Party, Ratu Wiliame Katonivere (now President of Fiji), former Attorney General Aiyaz Sayed-Khaiyum, former Prime Minister Voreqe Bainimarama and FijiFirst MP Faiyaz Koya.
He says Professor Prasad was also reported for investigation regarding the Girmit celebration funds in 2023 while Fisheries Minister Kalaveti Ravu is also under investigation for conflict of interest.
Chaudhry says it is absolutely shocking that eight ministers and four other prominent politicians are under investigation.
He says the Prime Minister has personally expressed concern about these investigations and under proper procedures, he should ask all these ministers to step aside pending investigation.
Chaudhry adds they have said this before and repeat it for the sake of having some semblance of integrity in the government.
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