Sugar Minister proposes a Commission of Inquiry on dealings of the Fiji Sugar Corporation

Minister for Multi-Ethnic Affairs and Sugar Industry Charan Jeath Singh says he has had discussions with Attorney General Siromi Turaga to recommend to cabinet to carry out a Commission of Inquiry into all the previous deals of the Fiji Sugar Corporation.

Singh says this is regarding the former FSC Executive Chairman Abdul Khan who settled a $90 million insurance claim for $30 million.

He says this was done without the approval of the Board and the government for which he had no authority.

While speaking about the Rakiraki Mill, Singh says a consulting firm recommended a combined insurance payout with an additional $2 million from the government for repairing the mill to be operational.

However, he says according to the report, the money that was to be spent was taken overnight, put in the system of FSC to show a profit, the mill was closed and made into scrap metal.

He says they have also submitted a lot of evidence to FICAC.

Singh says this also shows the previous government's irresponsibility especially the former Minister for Economy Aiyaz Sayed-Khaiyum and the Sugar Minister at that time, Voreqe Bainimarama as they should have kept an eye on what was happening.

FICAC had earlier told fijivillage News that there is an active ongoing investigation and divulging any finer details of the case may jeopardize the outcome of the investigation. We have sent further questions to FICAC.