Acting Commissioner of Police Rusiate Tudravu is again calling for patience and understanding as investigators need time in compiling and gathering facts and evidence pertaining to the report by Veronica Malani against Attorney General, Aiyaz Sayed-Khaiyum. This follows Malani’s concerns about the investigation process surrounding the handling of her report. Malani had visited the Commissioner’s Office, and had said that she was only receiving updates through media reports since September.
Tudravu says Police cannot rush the investigation process.
He says investigations will not be swayed by speculation or comments against the processes as they are mindful of their actions as it will ultimately impact the outcome of legal proceedings, if any.
Tudravu also says the earlier assurances given on the conduct of the investigations has not changed.
The Acting Commissioner says Malani has been given progress reports of her case since the day her report was lodged. He says the senior investigating officer visited her home several times to brief her of the progress of her investigations. Tudravu says while they do not wish to dwell too much on this issue, the investigating officers have been complying with necessary processes in communicating the progress of her investigation.
He says investigators have communicated with the Investigating Officer in the 1987 bombing cases who confirmed investigating three bombing cases where two persons were subsequently charged and produced in court.
Tudravu says investigators are trying to determine if the report lodged by Malani is linked to the same allegations and reports lodged in 1987 since the matter was already investigated and dealt with in court.
Veronica Malani has also delivered a letter to the Prime Minister, calling on Sayed-Khaiyum to step down to ensure a neutral investigation is carried out. She also raised the question on why Sayed-Khaiyum gave a statement to Police when he should have been caution interviewed.
Malani also says an alleged crime committed 30 to 40 years ago is still an alleged crime today and it is an insult to her family when comments are made like the crime was committed 3 decades ago.
She has given her statement with her father Ratu Filimoni Ralogaivau and her brother, and alleges that the two bombing incidents relate to Ralogaivau and his family targeted after he joined the Rabuka administration after the 1987 coup. Ratu Filimoni was part of the late Bavadra led government and had joined Rabuka’s caretaker government after the coup.
Malani alleges she saw the person who came in a car and threw a package into their driveway on October 18th 1987 that instantly exploded and seriously injured her and her mother in 1987. She says she was 14 years old at the time and had suffered serious burns and injuries. Her mother had also suffered injuries.
She alleges the bombing incidents occurred on October 17th and 18th 1987.
Malani has said in her letter to the Acting Police Commissioner that she is a victim in this case, not a suspect.
Attorney General, Aiyaz Sayed-Khaiyum has given his statement to the CID this afternoon and Police say the investigators are now compiling the file before it is sent to the Director of Public Prosecutions.
This is in relation to the complaint by Veronica Malani and her family against Aiyaz Sayed-Khaiyum earlier this year that had to do with alleged human rights abuses.
Malani is alleging that Sayed-Khaiyum and his associates organised the making and detonation of home bombs around Viti Levu in order to injure and harm known Fijian targets sympathetic to the interim government, following the coups of May and September, 1987 by Sitiveni Rabuka.
The Force had said that initial information indicates that three people were charged for those alleged incidents and were subsequently dealt with in court.
Acting Police Commissioner Rusiate Tudravu has given his assurance in a statement that investigations will be conducted thoroughly in relation to the complaint against Aiyaz Sayed-Khaiyum.
Tudravu is asking members of the public to be mindful of the fact that this is a report of an allegation that dates back more than 3 decades so it will take time for investigators to conduct their work.
The Office of the DPP returned Sayed-Khaiyum’s investigation file to Police for further investigation earlier this month.
Veronica Malani who is a former employee of the Land Transport Authority was charged with two counts of Obtaining Financial Advantage and General Dishonesty – Causing a Loss by FICAC earlier this year.
It is alleged that while employed as the Manager Road Safety and Education at LTA, Malani approved Accountable Advance claims made under the names of two other employees of LTA and as a result, obtained financial advantages of $1925 for herself and $250 for the second accused in October 2017.
FICAC had said Malani's actions are further alleged to have caused a total loss of $2,240 to LTA.
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