Fiji news headlines for September 18

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Leaked email shows Fiji's debt being hidden

Proof of the budget being ballooned to hide the huge amount of debt Fiji is in, has emerged in an email from the CEO of the Fiji Revenue and Customs Department.

The email is proof of how Aiyaz Sayed Khaiyum has been instructing the revenue department to play around with figures to show fake money, low debt and hide the crash in the economy.

In the email sent to Fazrul Rahman and other internal staff, Visvanath Das instructs them to delete any traces of real budget reports on their system so the truth of debt owed is not exposed.

Das further instructs meeting to discuss how to adjust more budget adjustments to hide the lies.

The email was sent in August last year, 5 days after the closure of the 2018-2019 financial year and shows that the revenue figures had to be inflated to match the false figures in the budget and therefore show a deficit of only 2.7 percent.

This shows how Aiyaz Sayed Khaiyum and his cronies have manipulated the FRCS and even the Reserve Bank to hide the deep shit they've put Fiji in.

The next budget is being presented this Friday, no doubt all the figures will be changed to hide the fact that Fiji is drowning in debt.

We all know this is true, look around and you will see poverty is rife, people are struggling to put food on the table, there are no jobs and COVID-19 has put a stop to tourist income coming in.

BDO report into USP show multiple policy breaches

Coupfourpointfive has been handed the controversial BDO Investigation into allegations of mismanagement of monies at USP.

The 110 page report details allegations and findings which we have posted as images with this post.

Here are some of BDO's key obeservations and recommendations:

* We are of the view that the oversight, governance, and control of remuneration is a key weakness across USP. This was a key theme throughout our investigation as many of the matters raised in the Paper, or the likely motivations behind those matters, relate to remuneration.

* We have noted a consistent theme of policy breaches in respect of bonus payments. Specifically, we have noted instances where staff members have been awarded ‘multiple’ bonuses which is not allowed under current policies. Payroll records indicate that bonuses totalling $1,890,129.08 was paid to staff across the three years ended 31 December 2018. Bonuses are discussed in detail below (refer to paragraph 72).


* We are of the opinion that the cumulative effect of this lack of oversight and control has resulted in breaches of policy (where policies exist) and numerous instances where staff members, particularly those in senior roles, are remunerated well outside Council- approved salary bandings. Examples of this are outlined below using the SMT and some members of staff that are named in the Paper.


The full report can be read below:

Bdo Report PDF by coupfourpointfive on Scribd

Has Bainimarama lost control to Khaiyum? Who is in charge?

Two events on Thursday and Friday strongly point towards the fact that coup leader and Prime Minister Frank Bainimarama is more than likely to have become a stooge of his Attorney General, Minister for Economy, multiple important portfolios holder and control freak Aiyaz Sayed Khiayum.

In other words, the master has likely become the puppet because of his inability to do anything and be totally dependent on who he has many times called his right hand man in Khaiyum.

Bainimarama, who has more than often portrayed himself as a strongman, has become a poodle or a lapdog who only barks when Khaiyum wants him to do so.

Sources within Fiji First Cabinet have been telling us this. They say the real PM is Khaiyum because Bainimarama doesn't want to bite the hand that feeds him.

Late Friday afternoon, Bainimarama announced a Cabinet reshuffle. And Khaiyum had his way because in came his buddy Faiyaz Koya, the near bankrupt man who desperately needs money to save his properties from being seized by the HFC bank that loaned him a couple of million dollars when he was in Cabinet before the 2018 elections.

He took over tourism, trade and commerce that were part of Premila Kumar's portfolios. She has been left with local government, housing and community development, which most likely means development of squatters.

So Queen Premila, who portrayed herself as one of the most prominent and visible ministers has been dethroned and left with minion portfolios while Faiyaz Koya, a man close to Khaiyum and who replaced Ashneel Sudhakar as a MP, is elevated to a ministerial position over many who received a whole lot more votes than him, but are either assistants ministers or backbenchers.

This is the Open Merit Recruiting System touted by Khaiyum as rewarding the most meritorious of any post. For Bainimarama, announcing the appointment of Faiyaz Koya as a Minister is no big deal because Khaiyum wanted it - and Fiji First cabinet sources tell us Bainimiarama will always agree what Khaiyum does or tells him because all the PM cares about is bundles of notes for him and his family.

Still on reshuffle, Dr Mahendra Reddy's wings have been clipped with rural and maritime development being taken away from him, leaving him with agriculture, waterways and environment.

This, according to Fiji First insiders, means Reddy has lost control of advisory councillors and has his travel to outer islands for picture opportunities slashed, he is now confined to distributing seeds and making sure the drains are clean.

We suppose that is what happens to a person who licks his or her own spit. In Reddy's case he was charged by FICAC that is controlled by Khaiyum, had to spend many thousands of dollars in legal fees, got acquitted but damage was done, yet he decided to trust Bainimarama who is not in control of what's happening around him.

Fiji First Cabinet insiders say Reddy and Premila Kumar will now be even more alienated by Bainimarama.

An example of why Frank is beholden to Khaiyum

Fiji First Cabinet sources tell us that another classic example of Frank being beholden to Khaiyum is how the AG used the acting Chief Justice to basically quash a Nadi magistrate's decision to acquit those who were arrested and charged but the charges were defective.

They were acquitted because the PM's order was mentioned as being issued under the Public Health Act when clearly the PM doesn't have any powers to do so. His announcement during a press conference cannot be taken as an order as an order has to be legal and gazetted.

The Public Health Act has not been changed to give powers to the PM to make any orders.

But around midday Thursday, Khaiyum called a press conference to criticise the magistrate and the acquittal and said the police commissioner was talking to the DPP to appeal the decision within the required 28 days.

But a few hours later, he re-appeared and said the acting Chief Justice Kamal Kumar had also opposed the acquittal and ordered that the case be recalled. Kamal Kumar's statement spoke the same language that Khaiyum did in his midday press conference.

Both said the magistrate should have asked the police precaution to correct the charge but the prosecution never at any time sought permission of the court to make such amendments.

Fiji First Cabinet insiders tell us that Bainimarama was impressed by Khaiyum's show of decisive authority in getting the acting CJ to interfere on his behalf and correct his (PM's and police error). Even if it meant that government was interfering and influencing the judiciary that is supposed to be totally independent.

They say the bond between the two strengthened overnight and Bainimarama said YES to the reshuffle including appointing Faiyaz Koya as a Minister.

And we have established that while Khaiyum was talking to Bainimarama over the phone on Thursday night to confirm the plan, Faiyaz Koya was seated next to Khaiyum at the posh flats on Princess road that are owned by the top Fiji First fundraiser Sanjay Kaba. The flats are near Home of Compassion.

But certainly there is no compassion for those who fall prey to this government. It is because, as the Fiji First cabinet insiders say, Banimarama has been told in no uncertain terms by Khaiyum that his security and safety at the hands of voters is in his (Khaiyum's) hands.

They tell us that Bainimarama realises that Khaiyum controls all independent institutions such as the Elections Office, Judiciary and Human Rights Commission. So there is nothing to worry about because Khaiyum reminds him that if he goes down, Bainimarama will go down with him as well.

Bainimarama’s controls the Army and Police through Nautpoto and Qiliho.

So it is a case of both catching each other's backs.

But while Khaiyum and acting CJ Kamal Kumar attacked the magistrate and his ruling for picking out the mistake in the defective charge, they did not pay attention to what the police were doing under Bainimarama's man Qiliho who has been busy recording statements of those arrested.

We have a copy of a statement that looks more like a template out of North Korea, thanks to Qiliho, than a statement recorded by a well-trained police force in a democratic country.

Watch this space as we will reveal the template from North Korea and why Acting CJ Kamal Kumar will do everything that Khaiyum wants.

Fiji Revenue and Customs CEO resigns

Viswanath Das, the embattled Chief Executive Officer of the Fiji Revenue & Customs Service, has resigned from his post more than 3 years after being appointed.

We have been told that this comes after he, Faiz Khan and Aiyaz Sayed Khaiyum, were seen together at the premises of FICAC - the Fiji Independent Commission Against Corruption.

Remember, last week FICAC cleared Khaiyum's aunt Nur Bano Ali of benefiting from $500,000 of taxpayers funds after rejecting the Auditor General and Fiji Court of Appeal findings that no tenders were called for the restructure of Rewa Dairy some years ago.

So what was cooked that saw Das resign? Why was Khaiyum's blue-eyed boy there in his master's company? And why did Khaiyum, as the Minister responsible for FICAC, go to its office knowing it is an independent office - or is supposed to be seen to be independent?

Das and Faiz Khan have been implicated in allegations of unlawfully authorising payment of legal fees to Haniff Tuitoga lawyers, to defend former FRCS Director Shameem Khan who is facing corruption charges. And both are implicated in allegations authorising payment of salary to Shameem Khan after he was charged and hauled to Court.

Is Khaiyum trying to save his friends, just like he saved his aunt Nur Bano Ali? And has Das has become the sacrificial lamb to escape any charges?

Sources say most at FRCS have no idea of this move and will only be aware after an announcement by either Das himself or the new FRCS Board.

So who is salivating at Das's resignation and thinks he will become the new CEO?

Enter Fazrul Rahman.

For almost two years until August 2018, Rahman was Director Corporate Management. In August 2018 he was appointed Director Revenue Management. Sources say this is when Das and Rahman didn't see eye to eye.

Sources say both of them started building their own inner circle and the power struggle saw FRCS operating as two entities instead of a unified body.

Das reportedly also had in his inner circle like Fane Vave, the Director Corporate Services who had succeeded Rahman after he was appointed Director Revenue Management. Then he had senior personalities like Kapil Raj who as we revealed made the payments to Haniff Tuitoga to defend Shameem Khan.

We have been told Vave has also resigned eight months into her new role following Das's resignation.

Rahman did not sit quietly either. He also went about building an inner circle and tried to undermine Das with his eye firmly fixed on the ultimate prize of the next CEO. And in his corner is also Aiyaz Sayed Khaiyum who last year made sure Rahman return to his job after his contract was not renewed by Das.

Rahman went to Khaiyum, opened his laptop and revealed how Dass was practicing nepotism in making appointments, while all the time hiding his own acts of nepotism and favouritism.

We are aware that last year FRCS staff signed a petition and individual staff provided details of how Rahman was ill-treating them and at the same time displaying arrogance because he knew he had the hand of Khaiyum on his shoulder.

Sources say it will be a mighty relief to see both Das and Rahman go as their terms had expired. Das was re-appointed for a term of 3 months until April but we had predicted he wasn't going to last till then.

Meanwhile Rahman's inner circle includes his Deputies Shavindra Nath and Shalini Kumar whose absenteeism is ignored by Rahman. Sources they are in cohorts with Rahman in sabotaging revenue collection to undermine Das.

Another of Rahman's puppets, Mohamed Rizwan Khan has escalated from being a mere Customs Officer to Manager and is now being eyed for a lucrative post for secondment to UNTACD – the United Nations Conference on Trade & Development. We are told before becoming Rahman's puppet, Rizwan was Shameem Khan's boy and his relative who received the first promotion under Shameem Khan.

Sources day FRCS staff will be glad to see the back of both Das and Rahman. Sources add that the staff want Revenue and Customs to be separated to what it was two decades ago so there is no clash of responsibilities and personalities.

As separate entities there was an Inland Revenue Commissioner and a Comptroller of Customs.

Sources say there are many examples in the world where consolidation of both revenue making bodies hasn't worked. They point out that both Canada and Papua New Guinea have reverted to the original system of separating both entities after merging them didn't work.

They point out if this happened, there won't be the kind of nepotism, undermining or organisation and clash of personalities like what is being seen now.

Exclusive: National Registration Bill leaked

A draft of the National Registration Bill shows that all citizens of Fiji will need to be registered, giving the government access to all your personal and private data.

Once it becomes law, this Bill will officially allow the government to spy on you.

The Bill (read its full contents at the end of this news) is authored by someone called "A" and the Minister responsible it is the Minister for Communications who is none other than Aiyaz Sayed Khaiyum. 

Aiyaz while editing the document seems to refer to Singapore's laws on the same.

Briefly, in the Bill:

• All citizens are compelled to register
• There are jail terms of five and 10 years and fines of $5000, $10,000 and $100,000 for corporate companies
• No public official or organisation is liable for any type of prosecution or legal action for their commissions and failures that cause losses or damage to citizens
• A police officer or the Registration Officer can enter and search any property including forcing and kicking open doors and windows of homes at any time if he suspects citizens of breaching provisions of the Bill
• No person can use a rank, title or award in his or her name which means if your current name contains Ratu or Adi - you cannot use it in your National Identity Card
• A citizen will be required to promise finger prints or hand prints, facial identity, Eye (Iris) ID) for this purpose
• All government statutory organisations will be linked and can spy on on your identity.
• Ironically the Ministry of Health that requires a patient number is not included but organisations such as Elections Office are

In simple terms, the government will have all your personal and private data, including your bank accounts and other assets like your home. You will be required to submit returns at whatever time the government requires of your home and property.

This is the new economically depressed Fiji that we are living in - being hounded and making being spied on lawful.

It is also very similar to what they are doing in Communist Countries like China.

Now read the Bill for yourself below.

National Registration Bill ... by coupfourpointfive on Scribd

Khaiyum's blue-eyed boy, Faiz Khan, part of corrupt dealings

Aiyaz Sayed Khaiyum was in Singapore last week and early this week receiving two stents to treat his stressed heart.

The overworked heart would’ve been under the pump when he heard that his blue-eyed boy Faiz Khan could very soon be under the microscope of Fiji Independent Commission Against Corruption (FICAC) for his dealings while a Board Member of Fiji Revenue & Customs Service (FRCS).

A clear-cut case of abuse of office.

Faiz Khan: Under microscope

We have confirmed through reliable sources that on Monday 27th January, FICAC raided the law firm of Haniff Tuitoga lawyers at Garden City on Grantham Road, Raiwaqa, Suva.

The reason? Haniff Tuitoga lawyers were paid an undisclosed sum by FRCS to act as the defence lawyers for FRCS's suspended Director Compliance Intelligence & Investigation and Chief Ethical Officer, Shameem Khan, who was last year charged on corruption-related offences.

Shameem faces one out of abuse of office and one count of general dishonesty causing a loss. His trial will be held later this year.

The charges relate to allegations of him falsifying a investigation report causing FRCS more than $4 million loss in revenue.

We have confirmed that Haniff Tuitoga lawyers, whose partners are Faizal Haniff and Tomasi Tuitoga, were chosen by FRCS Board, particularly Faiz Khan to defend Shameem Khan and the law firm to be paid by FRCS using taxpayers funds.

Faiz Khan developed close ties with Shameem and we have been told by sources their ties started when Faiz Khan became a Board member with years ago. Sources say Faiz Khan, amongst other things, runs a family a trucking business that we are told is also given log carting business by Tropik Woods whose Chairman is Faiz Khan. The business also does work for Fiji Sugar Corporation.

Faiz Khan was using Shameem Khan to investigate and harass rivals to tarnish their names in order to promote the family business.

We are told he recommended Haniff Tuitoga as the law firm to represent Shameem Khan at taxpayer’s expense because as Airports Limited Executive Chairman, he had engaged the law firm for AFL. Even now when AFL has become Fiji Airports Limited and Faiz Khan as its CEO, Haniff Tuitoga are its lawyers.


How did this corrupt deal surface?

Sources have confirmed that almost two weeks ago FICAC entered the office of FRCS CEO Vishwanath Das and seized his laptop.

We have confirmed this happened after new FRCS Chairperson Faye Yee filed a complaint with FICAC to investigate alleged corrupt dealings in respect of abuse of taxpayers funds through payments to Shameem Khan while he was suspended was charged and had appeared in Court.

The new Board did not include Faiz Khan and its former Chairman, Ajith Kodagoda, who had used FRCS has its executioner against those they didn't like or rivals in business.

It is also confirmed that Das will be a short-term CEO, possibly until April if he is lucky, as he had authorised FRCS to continue paying Shameem Khan his full salary and until recently half salary. This full salary was in access of $130,000 per annum making Das also guilty of abuse of office like Faiz Khan.

We are told that the payment to Haniff Tuitoga lawyers was discovered after FICAC went through Das's laptop.

That is where the connection to Faiz Khan was discovered.

However, it must be remembered that the Minister responsible for FICAC is Aiyaz Sayed Khaiyum. Whether or not anything will happen to Faiz Khan is is your guess as good as ours.

Because so far FICAC hasn't moved against Khaiyum's aunt Nur Bano Ali over her benefiting to the tune of over $500,000 in fees as part of carrying out the restructure of New Dairy without a tender called for the task.

This is a wait and see game to see whether Khaiyum's blue-eyed boy Faiz Khan is hauled in for abuse of office or if Das is made the sacrificial lamb.

DPP says sufficient evidence but no charges against Bainimarama

The DPP has now closed the investigation into Frank Bainimarama assaulting Pio Tikoduadua saying nothing further can be done since Parliament has already dealt with the situation.

Christopher Pryde says there was sufficient evidence of the assault for the case to go to court but since Parliament has already ruled on it, the matter cannot be dealt with in court since Parliament has higher powers.

The Speaker of the House, Frank Bainimarama and Aiyaz Sayed Khaiyum would already have known, as we did, that if Parliament ruled, that would be the end of the investigation.

Yet another huge miscarriage of justice with Frank Bainimarama getting away with his thug behaviour yet again.

Still believe Fiji is a democracy where there is fairness, transparency, accountability, freedom of the press for all?

Hopefully, those who support the Fiji First Government are coming to their senses and realising that there are two rules of law in Fiji - one for the citizens and the other which sets Frank Bainimarama and his merry men free of any criminal activities.

Welcome to Fiji - the way the world shouldn't be.

Qiliho defends arrest of 16-year-old by soldiers

The Commissioner of Police, Sitiveni Qiliho, has come out today saying there was nothing wrong with two off-duty soldiers arresting a 16-year-old for allegedly “writing vulgar language” about Frank Bainimarama.

Qiliho quotes Section 131 (2) of the 2013 Constitution saying it is the overall responsibility of the RFMF to “ensure at all times the security, defence and well-being of Fiji and all Fijians”.

He adds this is not the first time that the army has assisted police in arresting persons of interest in relation to criminal offences such as drug-related offences.

What purpose does the Fiji Police Force serve if the military is doing their jobs?

Don’t the military have better things to do than engage in the arrest of minor offences? Other than peacekeeping duties there is no other purpose for the existence of the RFMF — hence ‘helping’ the police justifies their existence.

And the REAL question is why this 16-year-old is being targeted for writing something vulgar about Bainimarama on Facebook?

What about the video showing Frank Bainimarama assaulting Pio Tikoduadua – when will that justice be served Mr Qiliho?
Social media is rife with anti-Bainimarama comments – will all these thousands of people be arrested as well?

Fiji is not a democracy then is it Shammi Lochan.

Lochan, a Programme Manager at FBC which is headed by Aiyaz Sayed Khaiyum’s brother, Riyaz, has announced a new programme on all six FBC stations from 8am-9am to identify fake news on social media.

FBC says “Fiji is a democratic country and there is no space for fake news in the country”.

Bainimarama gets away with a crime, Pio asked to apologise

The Privileges Committee has ruled that both Bainimarama and Pio Tikoduadua issue apologies in Parliament and if they fail to do so, they will be suspended for 6 months.

As predicted, the Committee's decision saves Bainimarama from facing criminal charges for assaulting Pio.

The Committee only viewed the official CCTV footage provided by Parliament and not the video evidence we released.

Pio Tikodudua provided the committee with the video evidence we released but they did not take that into account.

Why should Pio apologise when he did not commit a crime?

And will Pio apologise - we don't think he should and he won't - this is a matter of principle and the crime was not committed by him.

The sad thing is that the victim - Pio - will then be suspended from Parliament instead.

Fiji's thug Prime Minister gets away with a crime AGAIN while his victims get punished.

From the Committee Report:

"After hearing evidence from Hon. Pio Tikoduadua, the Committee reviewed the CCTV footage again and noted that the Hon. Pio Tikoduadua only took one step back as opposed to being thrown back.

"The Committee established that there was no evidence of a forceful shove/push/touch from the Hon. Prime Minister as alleged by Hon. Pio Tikoduadua.

"The Committee noted from the Hon. Prime Minister’s testimony that he pulled the collar to attract his attention about what he said about him.

"Furthermore, whilst responding to Hon. Mosese Bulitavu’s question, “Can you recall what words did you say?”, the Hon. Prime Minister responded and said “Well I abused him.

"The Hon. Prime Minister further stated in his testimony that he was distraught and depressed.

"The Hon. Prime Minister admitted that he was remorseful. He realised that he was wrong and immediately on the same day at around 3.30 p.m. he apologised to the Hon. Speaker. He also advised the Hon. Speaker that he was willing to apologise to Hon. Pio Tikoduadua.

"In that regard, the Hon. Speaker attempted to arrange a meeting with Hon. Pio Tikoduadua and the Hon. Prime Minister but this meeting did not eventuate. Hon Prime Minister made another attempt to apologise to Hon. Pio Tikoduadua
a week later but was again unsuccessful.

"During the examination of the Hon. Prime Minister, the Committee noted that he was remorseful of his actions and again offered to apologise.

"When Hon. Pio Tikoduadua was asked by the Committee whether he would accept Hon. Prime Minister’s apology, he responded “Why should I apologise?” and later he replied that he will require time to think about it.

"When asked whether he would apologise to Hon. Prime Minister, he replied that he has done nothing wrong and therefore has nothing to apologise for.

"The Committee after hearing all evidence and considering all relevant matters is satisfied that there is a breach of privilege on the part of the Hon. Prime Minister and the Hon. Pio Tikoduadua."

Full Report:

   Final Privileges Committee Report September 2019 by coupfourpointfive on Scribd