The owner of Yue Lai Hotel, Fugang Zhao has expressed his disappointment with the blatant disregard for journalist ethics and defamatory claims against him by Nick Mckenzie of 60 Minutes Australia.
Zhao says he did not get a courtesy call or an opportunity to respond to the allegations that were thrown at him for the first time.
He claims McKenzie trespassed on his private property and bombarded him with questions that left him greatly confused and worried for his safety.
Following the 60 Minutes Australia and Organized Crime and Corruption Reporting Project reports alleging that Australian intelligence reports have suggested that is one of the leaders of organized crime.
Zhao who has been a respected Fijian Citizen for over 20 years reiterates the recent unsubstantiated allegations made against him by 60 Minutes Australia.
Zhao says his reputation took decades to build and only 60 minutes of false accusations to destroy.
Over the years he has created jobs and attracted investment to Fiji, including his countless charitable endeavors, which have been largely undertaken without seeking any recognition.
Furthermore, Zhao and his associates have been informed that Mckenzie entered the country on a visitor's visa and then went ahead and worked.
He says this is the greatest irony illegally breaching a visa to accuse someone else of doing illegal things without evidence.
Zhao's contributions are well known and appreciated by the business community and ordinary Fijians alike, many of whom have reached out since the 60-minute false news story, expressing their disbelief and showing support for him.
Zhao commended the government of Fiji for having the good sense to ask for evidence when queried on this by the media.
This has already been reported to the police.
