The Former Finance Minister and current Fiji Ambassador to China, Sir James Ah Koy stresses that the two officials of Fiji Islands Revenue and Customs Authority who were sacked last year, were top FIRCA professionals.
Sir James believes that there was no personal agenda against Interim Finance Minister, Mahendra Chaudhry when the former Chiefs Auditors for FIRCA, Lepani Rabo and Joseva Leano started intensive investigations against Chaudhry.
The former Finance Minister said he has known Rabo and Leano for a number of years when he was the head of the Finance Ministry, and the two were in the top three positions of the organization due to their experience and professionalism.
He reveals that two other officials from FIRCA were handling Chaudhry's file and they were the ones who allegedly found the discrepancies in the files. They then referred the matter to the Chief Auditor, Lepani Rabo.
The former Finance Minister said the top two officials knew that they would be victimized and they had also sought advice from him.
Ah Koy confirmed to Village that Rabo and Leano met with him after they were asked to go home. He said the ironic thing is that the two were handling Chaudhry's tax files.
Ah Koy also confirms that he met Rabo and Leano with the Interim Prime Minister Commodore Frank Bainimarama last year where the two raised serious concerns about Chaudhry allegedly evading tax over a period of time and his source of income in the off-shore accounts.
Meanwhile Ah Koy who is in the country with a delegation from China said Interim Finance Minister, Mahendra Chaudhry should step aside now as it is just not right for him to stay on and make decisions on taxation issues if he himself is alleged to have evaded taxes and not declared income in off-shore accounts.
Sir James Ah Koy said he is also ready to take over as Interim Minister for Finance if Interim Prime Minister, Commodore Frank Bainimarama is finding difficulties in getting a new Finance Minister.
We have received information that Interim Prime Minister, Commodore Bainimarama met with Chaudhry, Interim Foreign Affairs Minister, Ratu Epeli Nailatikau and Interim Defense Minister, Ratu Epeli Ganilau in the last hour.
When approached by Village News outside the Government Buildings, Chaudhry, Ratu Epeli Nailatikau and Ratu Epeli Ganilau said that they went to the PM's office for a normal cabinet caucus meeting. Chaudhry also said that he will not make any more comments about the allegations of tax evasion over a period of time and the non-declaration of the source of income in his off-shore bank accounts from 2000 to 2003.
No personal agenda against Chaudhry
Related Stories
We are committed to holding elections – Siromi Turaga
Questions were raised during Dialogue Fiji’s Constitution review discussion on whether the government can delay the general elections and complete the Constitution review however Acting Attorney General Siromi Turaga
Fijian economy on track to grow for fourth consecutive year in 2025 by 3.4%
The Fijian economy is on track to grow for the fourth consecutive year in 2025 by 3.4 percent, following a 3.5 percent expansion in 2024. The growth forecast is revised up marginally from the 3.2 percent projected
Heavy Rain Alert for Eastern Viti Levu, Southern Bua, Cakaudrove, Taveuni and maritime areas
A heavy rain alert is now in force for the eastern half of Viti Levu (Navua–Suva–Nausori to Serua–Namosi to Tailevu–Naitasiri–Ra areas), southern Bua, Cakaudrove, Taveuni and nearby smaller islands, the Lau an
We need to dismantle criminal enterprises, hitting them where it hurts most - Speaker
Speaker of Parliament, Filimone Jitoko has highlighted during the opening of the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions Conference that there is a need for prosecutors in the country to master the digital frontie
Fiji has learned from its past and we know that restricting media engagement or access is not the answer - Tabuya
At all times, the public interest in accessing information and the media’s role in scrutinising government must outweigh any unilateral power to silence or sideline a news outlet. In Fiji, we uphold the principle that
Wailea resident raises concerns about drug issues raised countless times with Police while COMPOL says official complaint must be lodged
Wailea Settlement Community leader, Inoke Utona says he has raised the issue of drug use and dealing in their area countless times with the authorities but there has still been no response from Police. However when