15 Nov 2006

Fiji police investigation into armed forces commander almost complete

4:32 pm on 15 November 2006

Police in Fiji say they are on the verge of completing their investigation into alleged seditious statements by the military commander, Commodore Frank Bainimarama.

The officer responsible for the investigation, Josaia Rasiga, who is the Director of the Police's Criminal Investigation Department, says the next stage will be to submit their findings to the Director of Public Prosecutions or DPP.

"Currently the investigation is still in progress. There are a number of cases that are currently under investigation against the commander. Some of the cases are almost on the verge of completion. And at the completion of our investigation we will be compiling and submitting the files to the DPP for their attention."

Mr Rasiga says he doesn't know exactly when the investigation will be completed, but expects a file to be sent to the Director of Public Prosecutions in what he describes as the 'not-too-distant future'.

The DPP will then make a decision about whether the commander can be prosecuted.