6 Mar 2006

The truth about Fiji's 440 billion dollar man due soon

4:49 pm on 6 March 2006

Fiji police say the truth about the mystery man who claims to represent a shadowy organisation with 440 billion US dollars in assets described as the Office of International Treasury Control should be known as early as today.

The Fiji Times says police have confirmed that they have called in the international police organisation, Interpol, to check the background of the man described as the Chief of Cabinet of the elusive organisation, a Dr Keith Scott.

Dr Scott offered 3.5 billion US dollars to set up an indigenous Fijian bank and offered another 3 billion US dollars to develop their resources before leaving Fiji last Friday night.

The director of the Criminal Investigation Department, Superintendent Josaia Rasiga, says they are expecting a report from Interpol any time now.

The minister for home affairs, Josefa Vosanibola, says when he gets the Interpol report through the police, he will brief the prime minister and the cabinet on the background of Dr Scott.

Mr Qarase has advised indigenous chiefs to be careful of Dr Scott, adding that no one in their right mid would give that kind of money to a small economy like Fiji's.

The chairman of the Great Council of Chiefs, Ratu Ovini Bokini, has added his caution, saying people should be careful about false promises.

But the chairman of the Viti Land and Resource Owners Association, Ratu Osea Gavidi, told Radio Legend today that Mr Qarase and others should stop making comments and defaming them because they are not small people.

Ratu Osea says the government should leave the resource owners alone.