Fiji News

FOCUS ON FIJI a-G Clears the air on FNPF Investments In Fiji Airways

“Money does not leave the country and when Health Care (Fiji) Limited makes money that money goes as an interest payment to their accounts.”

aTTORNEy-GENERal and Minister for Economy, Aiyaz Sayed-Khaiyum, has cleared the air on the government’s investments in Fiji Airways.

While debating the Review Report of the FNPF 2019-2021 Annual Reports in parliament, Mr SayedKhaiyum said investments by FNPF into Fiji Airways were smart investments.

“I will tell you why, because the share price which they have paid for at $4.22.”

Before COVID-19, the share price in 2019 in Fiji Airways was $16 a share,” Mr Sayed-Khaiyum said.

“They have now bought it at $4.22 a share. With Fiji Airways flying the way it is with the borders being reopened within two years they will be able to double or triple the share value,” he said.

“That is what you call a smart investment. They did not do it as some willy-nilly investment and in the same way they made some smart investment in EFL.”

He said it was in the same way the Prime Minister highlighted the relationship with Health Care (Fiji) Limited.

“Sir, Health Care (Fiji) Limited will provide open heart surgeries,” he said.

“Bulk of the FNPF members who faced medical problems, those procedures cannot be provided in Fiji, take out their funds and go to India or those who can afford it to Australia and New Zealand.”

“If those procedures are going to be available in Fiji what is wrong with that.”

In fact it is a benefit to members. They will be able to actually access those services here.

“Money does not leave the country and when Health Care (Fiji) Limited makes money that money goes as an interest payment to their accounts.”

“Again they do not think.”

He added that Fiji Airways was 51 per cent owned by the Fijian Government, FNPF owns 30 per cent, Unit Trust of Fiji (UTOF) owns 1.58 per cent, Qantas owns 16.45 per cent, Air New Zealand 0.68 per cent, Kiribati 0.1 per cent, Tonga 0.1 per cent, Samoa 0.043 per cent and even Nauru owns 0.031 per cent.

tui sabeto, laid to rest

Ratu Teviuta as a chief, looked after the seven Yavusa (tribes): - Conua, Leiwavuwavu, Nasara, Waruta, Lewe i Drasa, Ne, Lewe i Koro

TUI Sabeto, Ratu Tevita Susu Mataitoga was heralded as a leader who prized education as a precious commodity.

This is what mourners were told at his funeral yesterday.

Ratu Tevita died at Nadi Hospital on August 20. He was 44 years old.

He was installed as the Tui Sabeto on December 7, 2007.

Ratu Teviuta as a chief, looked after the seven Yavusa (tribes): – Conua, Leiwavuwavu, Nasara, Waruta, Lewe i Drasa, Ne, Lewe i Koro.

He is survived by his wife, Merewairita Mataitoga, four children and three grandchildren.

He was buried at the Sau Tabu, at the village of Koroiaca, Sabeto.

Ex-Lawyer Pleads Not Guilty To Theft Of $1.5m

Naco pleaded not guilty to the charge. The Police prosecutor objected to bail on the grounds of public interest, the substantial amount involved nil recovery and likelihood of interference with prosecution witnesses.

FORMER prominent lawyer, Akuila Naco, accused of dishonestly appropriating more than $1.5 million from a bank has been granted bail by the Magistrates Court in Suva Naco appeared before Magistrate Indula Ratnayake, represented by lawyers Filimoni Vosarogo and Simione Valenitabua.

Naco has been charged with one count of theft. Naco, between May 1, and June 30, 2018, at Suva, allegedly made an application for the installation of an EFTPOS machine in his office under the Supermarket mode, where he later allegedly switched it to Tourism mode without proper compliance to the Bank’s policies and procedures.

It is further alleged that by doing so, Naco allegedly enabled the transfer of $1,550,900 from the Bank of the South Pacific to his firm’s Operating Account with the same Bank, via several transactions.

It is also alleged that the said funds were then further transferred to the Firm’s Trust Account whereby multiple cheque withdrawals were conducted in which the accused was the sole signatory.

It is alleged that through these unlawful actions, the accused managed to dishonestly appropriate and deprive the bank of the said fund.

Naco pleaded not guilty to the charge. The Police prosecutor objected to bail on the grounds of public interest, the substantial amount involved nil recovery and likelihood of interference with prosecution witnesses.

The prosecutor also made an oral application for the matter to be transferred to the High Court given that the amount was more than $50,000 which was beyond the Magistrates Court jurisdiction.

Vosarogo argued that the ordinary procedure for the offence was triable summarily in Magistrates Court.

He said that Naco was in a position to surrender his passport and reside at a fixed address which would eliminate the chances of fleeing or not coming to court.

He said Naco was a known member of the community and a former legal practitioner before his practicing certificate was cancelled over a year ago. He further said that Naco had been a practitioner for more than two decades.

Mr Vosarogo also highlighted that Naco had been in Police custody since 2pm on Monday and that 48 hours expired at 2pm on Wednesday.

He further said this was a clear breach of Constitution by the Police as they kept Naco in excess of 48 hours permitted by the law.

Mr Vosarogo also made an application for the name of Naco to be supressed with the presumption of innocent until proven guilty as Naco was a standing man in the community and in the legal fraternity.

Magistrate Ratnayake ruled that the court hearing was open to the public and that they had the right to know what was happening.

He dismissed the application for name suppression. He granted bail to Naco in the sum of $5000 cash and two sureties with a bail bond of $5000 each noncash.

Naco was ordered not to reoffend, not to change his residential address, and not to interfere with any prosecution witnesses.

He was also ordered to surrender his travel documents and report to Totogo Police Station every first Saturday of the month between 8am and 6pm. A stop departure order has been issued against Naco.

The Prosecution had been ordered to file a notice of motion with affidavit in relation for their application for the case to be transferred to the High Court. The matter has been adjourned for mention on October 26.

Biman, No Show

The PM claimed Mr Prasad ran off to New Zealand yesterday because he knew that he would be questioned in Parliament as to who the MP was, and to prove his claims.

NaTIONal Federation Party leader, Biman Prasad, was to disclose to Parliament yesterday the name of the Government Member of Parliament who allegedly said the 2018 General Elections was rigged. However, he was a no-show in the august house.

He took a morning flight to New Zealand to attend the funeral of the late Jai Ram Reddy. The funeral is today.

The Minister for Employment, Productivity, Industrial Relations, Youth and Sports, Parveen Bala, is also attending the late Mr Reddy’s funeral.

But he flew on the last flight out of Fiji last night. He had attended Parliament via Zoom from the Ba.

NFP’s party president, Pio Tikoduadua, refused to comment on Mr Prasad’s behalf over the alleged comments supposedly made by a Government MP.

PM: Mr Prasad A Liar

Given that Mr Prasad chose to fly out early when he was to make bombshell disclosures in Parliament, Prime Minister Voreqe Bainimarama called Mr Prasad a liar.

The PM claimed Mr Prasad ran off to New Zealand yesterday because he knew that he would be questioned in Parliament as to who the MP was, and to prove his claims.

“Such claims made by Mr Prasad were dangerous,” Mr Bainimarama said.

“He needed to come with substantial evidence while making such claims in Parliament. Instead, he ran away.” Mr Tikoduadua said Mr Prasad did not run away.”

“He has gone to farewell the late Mr Reddy. His funeral is tomorrow, so it’s better to pay tribute to him,” Mr Tikoduadua said.

While being questioned as to why Mr Prasad had made such claims and then fly out to New Zealand, Mr Tikoduadua said Fiji Sun should ask Mr Prasad that question because Mr Prasad had made that statement.