12 Nov 2015

Fiji opposition wants FICAC boss to quit

6:05 pm on 12 November 2015

The Fiji opposition leader says the deputy commissioner of the corruption agency, FICAC, should step down.

Fiji Attorney General Aiyaz Sayed Khaiyum

Fiji Attorney General Aiyaz Sayed Khaiyum Photo: RNZI / Vosita Kotoiwasawasa

This comes after FICAC cleared the attorney general Aiyaz Sayed-Khaiyum of making a false declaration of his assets as required of MPs.

Ro Teimumu Kepa says George Langman ran an error-riddled investigation into the opposition's complaint into the alleged breach.

She says Mr Langman showed his incompetence by stating Mr Sayed-Khaiyum had overstated the value of his asset, and not understated it.

But Ro Teimumu says the point of the declarations is to ensure transparency from people holding public office.

She says Mr Langman's shoddy assessment has brought FICAC into disrepute because the independent national watchdog on corrupt and illegal conduct has undermined its own credibility with the public.

The opposition says it wants the Electoral Commission and the Registrar of Elections to undertake their own investigations.

It also lodged a complaint with the police.

Under the decree, politicians who make false declarations are liable to fines of 50,000 Fiji dollars or up to 10 years in jail, or both.

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Photo: RNZI Sally Round

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