26 Jun 2002

Former Fiji finance secretary said too be involved in agriculture ministry scam

10:47 am on 26 June 2002

It's been revealed that Fiji's former secretary of finance, Sila Kotobalavu, was among those who applied for aid under the interim administration's farming assistance scheme better known as the agriculture ministry scam.

The Fiji Times reports that documents in its possession dated March 2001 shows that Mr Kotobalavu asked for an 8 metre fibreglass boat, a 40 horse power engine, an ice box and fishing gear valued at five-thousand-800 US dollars.

Mr Sila Kotobalavu was sacked from the finance ministry in April, and immediately appointed to a higher paid job as chief executive of Fiji's Revenue and Customs Authority.

Mr Kotobalavu has not made any comment on the matter.