21 May 2002

Fiji Labour Party calls on Attorney General to resign

4:14 pm on 21 May 2002

The Fiji Labour Party has called for the resignation of the Attorney General, Qoriniasi Bale.

Labour MP Lekh Ram Vyashnoi, made the call in Parliament after Mr Bale disclosed confidential police information in the House.

Mr Bale said the suspended head of the Agriculture Ministry, Peniasi Kunatuba, had told police that he was not given instructions to use public money for vote buying in the general election.

Mr Vyashnoi said the Attorney General had undermined the police investigation into the 13 milion US dollar farming assistance scam by using his position to obtain confidential information and airing it in the House under parliamentary privilege.

Mr Vyashnoi said with his further remarks the Attorney General had already found some of those alleged to be involved in the scam to be guilty.

He said Mr Bale wanted to be judge, juror and executioner on the issue.