Interim Prime Minister, Commodore Frank Bainimarama is yet to decide on what action he will take in relation to the allegations leveled against Interim Finance Minister Mahendra Chaudhry.
Bainimarama said Chaudhry has proposed that an inquiry should be conducted but the Interim PM will decide on the necessary action to establish whether his Finance Minister allegedly evaded taxes over a period of time.
Chaudhry has instructed his lawyers to file papers today to sue The Fiji Times for defamation whereby in court The Fiji Times will have to prove the truth of their statements.
The Interim Finance Minister also said he has instructed his lawyers to also include the reports of Victor Lal published in the Fiji Sun.
Chaudhry states he will not make any further statements regarding this issue as whatever is to be said must now be said in a court of law.
Earlier Chaudhry had reiterated that he did not owe any outstanding taxes and he will not resign as long he has the confidence of his cabinet.
Why hold an inquiry when you know what to do.
Fiji Islands Revenue and Customs Authority Staff Association General Secretary, Kenneth Zinck said the Interim Finance Minister knows what should be done and therefore there is no need for an inquiry at the moment.
Former Chief Auditor of the Fiji Islands Revenue and Customs Authority, Lepani Rabo said he was not satisfied after being terminated from FIRCA.
Rabo broke his silence, revealing all the documents showing the alleged tax evasion to the media after he had informed Interim Prime Minister Commodore Frank Bainimarama.
Rabo informed Village News that he has been waiting for the last 8 months for action to be taken against the Interim Minister but nothing had eventuated.
Rabo told Village News that a senior military officer urged him to reveal the details of Mahendra Chaudhry, but he would not reveal his name.
Meanwhile, the Fiji Islands Revenue and Customs Authority said the right to privacy over tax affairs which the Interim Minister enjoys is not just an "apparent" right but a real one, enjoyed in common with all Fiji taxpayers.
In a press statement released Chief Executive Officer Jitoko Tikolevu said simply for the Fiji Times to be in possession of documents referred to, delivered to it by those violating the secrecy laws under which FIRCA functions, is itself a serious criminal offence.
Tikolevu adds what the Fiji Times is lacking, and what it must continue to lack are the details of the examination of the documents, the clarifications and explanations put forward in regards to them, and full details of FIRCA's analysis of such clarifications and explanations.
He goes on to say having regard to FIRCA's complete examination of the case, "credible allegations" of the tax evasion is not established against the Minister.
Tikolevu said in light of the new developments, Former Chief Auditor Lepani Rabo and Joseva Leano are now being investigated for possible breaches of the secrecy provision under Section 4 of the Income Tax Act.
The FIRCA CEO said the Authority will not at any time tolerate employees, whether current or former, breaching their oath of secrecy.
