11 Jun 2004

Fiji police continue Savua coup probe

1:42 pm on 11 June 2004

Fiji police are probing further into former police commissioner Colonel Isikia Savua's alleged role in the 2000 coup.

The deputy director of public prosecutions, Peter Ridgeway, says the police have been asked to provide further information on the case to ensure the investigation is complete.

"It's unlikely to reach a conclusion for a couple of weeks. There are some tasks which have been set to the police which we think ought to be done just to make the investigation as full as it can be. I expect that to occupy them for a couple of weeks, at which time I think we should be able to achieve some finality."

Mr Ridgeway says a decision over whether to charge Colonel Savua will be made once those inquiries are complete.

He received a briefing last week from the police taskforce handling the inquiry.

Fiji's police commissioner, Andrew Hughes, has said he believes there is enough evidence to charge his predecessor with abuse of office.