The case also unravels the full extent of the corruption within the Fiji Police Fore and other organizations as claimed by investigating Detective, Inspector Nasir Ali.
My removal was a plot, says Ali
Fiji Live: Tuesday October 03, 2006
The main investigating police officer in the $29 million agricultural scam alleges he was conspired against by authorities to save some influential businessmen and government ministers.
Inspector Nasir Ali revealed during the trial of former Agriculture permanent secretary Peniasi Kunatuba that he had originally interviewed the then Agriculture Minister Apisai Tora with an intention to charge him with conspiracy to defraud the Fiji Government.
Ali also revealed that he had intended to interview Prime Minister Laisenia Qarase based on allegations made by Kunatuba against him.
During this morning's session, Kunatuba's lawyer Tevita Fa asked Ali whether Kunatuba was primarily responsible for the scheme to which Ali replied that while some liability fell on Kunatuba, others were also responsible.
He told High Court judge Justice Nazhat Shameem that Kunatuba's evidence also incriminated former Home Affairs Minister Jonetani Cokanasiga and his permanent secretary Jeremaia Waqanisau amongst other interim cabinet members yet to be named.
Ali said there was also evidence that came out during his investigations against former assistant Agriculture Minister Marieta Rigamoto.
He said the scheme involved "everyone from the top management to the ordinary worker".
Ali told Justice Shameem that in the midst of investigations, some senior police officers complained that he had "done some business" with Suncourt, a hardware company implicated in the scam.
Ali said the charges of abuse of office against him were "nothing but to save prominent people implicated including some senior officers and management staff and the directors of Suncourt and RC Manubhai".
He said since he was removed no Suncourt employee was neither questioned nor charged in relation to scam. Ali said a Suncourt director had admitted to that in a tribunal set-up in 2004 to investigate the abuse of office charges laid against him.
Ali also alleged that the conspiracy extended to other investigations conducted under him in particular, a "police pay fraud" involving "many senior police officers".
He added that the July 2001 fire that destroyed part of Suncourt claimed as accidental was in fact arson.
It was revealed in Court yesterday that some of the invoice and payment receipts claimed by Suncourt directors to have been destroyed in the fire were later recovered in 2002 in the Suncourt general manager's office.
Fijilive
Apparently the prime reason for the treasury's pathetic state is the misappropriation of state funds. This is always been highlighted by the reports of the Auditor General's office, year in and year out in Fiji.
Club Em Designs
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