16 Mar 2006

Fiji police warning about OITC bank

10:09 am on 16 March 2006

Fiji's police commissioner, Andrew Hughes, is sounding a warning of caution to locals involved in a proposal for a bank for indigenous Fijians following an Interpol report.

An Australian, Keith Scott, has promised billions of dollars towards the bank, and has obtained the backing of more than 200 middle-ranking chiefs.

He said the Office of the International Treasury Control or OITC wanted to set up the bank in the country.

But the police commissioner, Andrew Hughes, says information obtained from an Interpol report on Keith Scott shows he is well known by overseas authorities, especially in Australia.

"Suffice to say that what we have received certainly supports my cautionary advice to the Viti land owners and resources association to exercise extreme caution when dealing with OITC and to ensure that they conduct a full and independent due diligence check."

Fiji's police commissioner Andrew Hughes his office has presented its case to the authorities involved in considering the proposal.