Prime Minister, Sitiveni Rabuka is yet to comment on Minister for Immigration, Pio Tikoduadua offering to temporarily step aside from his role.
Tikoduadua offered to take this step pending the outcome of an investigation to address a serious matter that has recently 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.
Tikoduadua has directed an immediate and thorough investigation.
Acting Police Commissioner, Juki Fong Chew says the Fiji Police Force will await further directions from the Prime Minister, and in the meantime, he has directed the Assistant Commissioner of Police Crime to conduct a preliminary investigation to further determine whether the Police or FICAC will lead the investigation.
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