5 Jul 2006

Tight police security at Fiji's Nadi airport continues

2:49 pm on 5 July 2006

Fiji police have continued to maintain tight security at Fiji's Nadi International Airport to ensure the safety of passengers and aircraft for the second consecutive day.

The security alert remained in place as the sacked managing director of Strategic Air Services Limited, Watisoni Nata, was remanded in custody for another two weeks.

Police arrested and charged Nata after he allegedly hired about 50 thugs to storm the company's office and assault security guards in the early hours of Tuesday morning.

He has been charged with forcible entry and office break-in.

The Nadi magistrate's court has remanded Nata to Lautoka Prison until the 19th of this month when a plea will be taken.

A spokesperson for Airports Fiji Limited says security manning levels have been increased around the air traffic control tower, the air traffic management centre and other key installations.

The Fiji Sun reports that the coup convict, Maciu Navakasuasua had alleged that Nata and another board member of Strategic Air Services, Navitalai Naisoro, were the masterminds of a planned bombing campaign at Nadi Airport when Mahendra Chaudhry became prime minister in 1999.

The allegations were supported by another former coup convict, Josaia Waqabaca, but both men have denied their involvement.