Ratu Rakuita to forward Ratu Wiliame’s audit file to an appropriate agency of Govt

Executive Chair of Fiji Pine Group of Companies, Ratu Rakuita Vakalalabure has confirmed he will now forward the audit and investigation file relating to the former Chair of the company and President, Ratu Wiliame Katonivere to an appropriate agency of Government as agreed in their Board meeting last week.

Following questions raised by fijivillage News, Ratu Rakuita confirms the audit report was referred to the Attorney General, Graham Leung as provided for under the appropriate legislation who has declined to comment on the substantive report and has referred it back to the Board.

The Executive Chair says the Attorney General did not want his office involved to ensure the assessment of the report and any further action does not have any perception of political interference, even though the law allows the Attorney General to make such a decision.

Ratu Rakuita says he will not disclose the agency until he is able to meet them in person and hand over the file.

Prime Minister, Sitiveni Rabuka had earlier said it was not his role to refer the audit and investigation reports relating to President, Ratu Wiliame Katonivere to FICAC.

Rabuka said that’s the Attorney General’s role when asked by us.

Rabuka earlier confirmed to us that President Ratu Wiliame decided to decline Rabuka's nomination of him to serve a second term of three years as President after he saw an internal audit and investigation report.

We had asked Rabuka on whether he had met Ratu Wiliame in Auckland last month and advised him that he was withdrawing Ratu Wiliame's nomination, and for him to formally withdraw.

fijivillage News has gathered that Rabuka met with Ratu Wiliame for about 10 minutes in a meeting room at a hotel in Auckland.

While responding to our questions, Rabuka said he informed Ratu Wiliame that an Internal Audit and an Internal Investigation Report was reported to him by the Board Chairperson of the three Government Companies Ratu Wiliame had served on.

Rabuka says these were then subjected to forensic reexamination and to the Attorney General for advice on whether to prosecute or not.

He says it was then that Ratu Wiliame felt he should decline the Prime Minister's nomination of him.