Prime Minister, Sitiveni Rabuka says it looks like a twice-bankrupt Australian who managed to secure talks with him to seek backing for a "bogus" international rescue fleet, was trying to con us.
Rabuka made these comments to fijivillage News after the ABC highlighted the Australian who styles himself as an 'admiral'.
New South Wales man Peter Cowell, who poses in 'admiral' whites, claimed to have raised hundreds of millions in funding, but has never served in the navy and has left would-be supporters claiming they have lost thousands of dollars.
The 62-year-old, who did not respond to requests for comment, has been peddling a "mercy ship" scheme called IntSAR, or International Sea/Air Rescue, for the past quarter of a century.
IntSAR was pitched as a 14-fleet maritime aid force, which would be headquartered in an island nation and render help to those in need.
Cowell's whereabouts are unknown but he is believed to be in Thailand or Western Australia.
His photos has emerged with Sitiveni Rabuka, Sakiusa Raivoce and Fiji’s High Commissioner to Australia, Ajay Amrit.
When asked by fijivillage News on whether there is a vetting process in place before the Prime Minister has these arranged meetings to ensure he is not meeting con artists, Rabuka says he just makes sure that they do not commit without proper vetting and proper due process.
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