The Independent Tax Inquiry Team has found no basis for thinking any charges could be laid against Interim Finance Minister Mahendra Chaudhry under the Tax Act.
In its report the inquiry team states that in order for an offence under section 96 of the Tax Act to be proven against Chaudhry it would have to be established that he 'willfully with intent to evade' tax omitted income from his tax return.
The team said it has reviewed FIRCA's files and discussed the matter with them. According to the report FIRCA is satisfied that the non disclosure resulted from inadvertence and arose out of a misunderstanding of the application of Fiji laws to interest earned outside Fiji.
It said Chaudhry's conduct following the matter being raised by FIRCA about his non declaration of interest earned on his Australian accounts did not suggest behavior designed to conceal income from the authorities.
The team said Chaudhry seems to have been cooperative including disclosing to FIRCA information about other financial institution accounts which at that time were unknown to them.
Transparency International Fiji believes that a more in depth inquiry into allegations of tax evasion against Interim Finance Minister Mahendra Chaudhry should be carried out.
Speaking to Fijivillage News Chairman Hari Pal Singh said they are not satisfied with the swift investigations conducted by the Bruce Cowley Inquiry Team as the matter could have been investigated further.
Singh confirms that their board will meet today and the outcome of the investigations will also be discussed.
According to the three member Inquiry Team, tax assessments by FIRCA regarding Mahendra Chaudhry, between 2000 and 2006 were carried out in accordance with the Tax Act and other relevant laws of Fiji.
The Inquiry team also did not identify any breaches of the Exchange Control Act by Chaudhry between 2000 and 2006.
Chaudhry didn’t willfully evade taxes
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