22 Sep 2004

Fiji Labour Party leader interviewed by police

10:44 am on 22 September 2004

Fiji's police commissioner, Andrew Hughes, has interviewed the Labour Party leader, Mahendra Chaudhry.

Fiji TV reports that police have not released details of the interview except to say that it was normal procedure to conduct interviews with prominent politicians on a one-to-one basis.

The meeting came just a day after Mr Hughes replaced the team that was investigating the 13-million US dollar agriculture ministry scam following serious internal allegations in the force.

Among other things, Mr Hughes is reported to have discussed the scam with Mr Chaudhry, which happened during the term of the Qarase post-coup interim administration as it was preparing for the 2001 general election.

Mr Chaudhry says he would like to see an early determination of the scam which has been under investigation for nearly three years.

Police say the investigations will be speeded up with the arrival of specialists from the New Zealand Serious Fraud Office in two weeks.