Fiji's Opposition continues to pursue the Attorney General

Transcript

Fiji's opposition leader says her complaint against the attorney general over a property declaration last year is about upholding the honesty and integrity of the government.

Ro Teimumu Kepa says Aiyaz Sayed-Khaiyum grossly undervalued a property in a signed statutory declaration earlier this year by at least 20-thousand US dollars.

The opposition has laid complaints with the police, the Supervisor of Election, and the Independent Commission Against Corruption.

Ro Teimumu told Jamie Tahana the complaint is serious, and she expects it to be treated with urgency.

RO TEIMUMU KEPA: Under the decree, we have to be truthful about whatever assets we have that we are declaring, and in this particular case we have found out that the land was valued at a different price and he had a different price on his declaration.  

JAMIE TAHANA: Why is that such a big deal? Is there any advantage to Mr Sayed-Khaiyum in doing this?

RTK: You know I really wouldn't know why he would have done that. He goes through a fine-toothed comb with all the assets, especially of particular people. So I would have thought that he would have been very careful in terms of his own declaration.  

JT: So this is more about his honesty; his integrity. There's nothing in this that would affect Fiji or help him with his campaign or anything?

RTK: They have the FICAC there -- the Independent Commission Against Corruption -- and they have other offices in place to ensure that people are abiding by the laws of this country, including the decrees which he is responsible for. So I would have thought that he would be the most honest of us all in terms of whatever he does but in this particular case it's about the declaration of assets.

JT: Can you see any way that he would have gained personally from lowering the value from this property?

RTK: Only he himself would be able to give you a satisfactory response to that because none of us would know why he would have done that.

JT: OK now you have complained to the police, FICAC, and the Supervisor of Elections haven't you?

RTK: Yes, and we have received notification that that letter has been received.

JT: Has there been any indication of how long these investigations may take or anything?

RTK: I think, you know, you've been talking with us here in Fiji for some time now and you do know that if it is the ordinary person, ordinary members of the public, they're very quick at bringing people into line but in this particular case you would also know that people are very wary, even the media will not saying anything -- this is the most feared person in Fiji.

JT: You don't sound that confident about the investigation that's taking place?

RTK: Uh, no I believe that the investigations will continue because of the attention on it but I am not holding my breath there.

JT: It's not a lot of confidence to hold in the investigators and the local media is it?

RTK: Hmm, you know I just hope that they will be able to do what they are supposed to be doing, their particular offices, and that is to investigate and treat it as any other case.

JT: Do you think that will happen?

RTK: I'm hoping -- you know you can always live in hope. With this particular case, because it's the attorney general, I just hope that some of them will be strong enough to do what they have been assigned to do in terms of their position and carry on with it and just treat it like they treat all of us when we have a case to be investigated.

Aiyaz Sayed-Khaiyum has not responded to requests for comment.