23 Feb 2007

Fiji interim AG says probe of Seniloli release part of anti-corruption drive

3:17 pm on 23 February 2007

Fiji's interim attorney general says investigations into a medical report which led to the early release of the jailed former vice president is part of the military's clean-up campaign.

Ratu Jope Seniloli was jailed for four years in August 2004 after being convicted of taking an illegal oath to commit a capital offence purporting to become the president during the 2000 coup.

The Fiji Court of Appeal dismissed an appeal by Seniloli but the then attorney general, Qoriniasi Bale, released him after four months imprisonment on a compulsory supervision order, citing a medical report as justification.

But the interim Attorney General, Aiyaz Sayed-Khayum, says no one has seen the report, which is missing from the ministry of justice.

"What we are concerned about is the manner in which the so-called medical report was procured, if at all. We've written to the former Attorney General and asked him to show us where this medical report is. Because people have sworn affidavits saying that there was a medical report, but to date we cannot find it."

Aiyaz Sayed-Khayum

Mr Bale declined to comment on the matter.