12 Nov 2002

Former Marshalls president seeks rental repayment

11:39 am on 12 November 2002

A former president of the Marshall Islands, Imata Kabua, is demanding that the government repay him 90-thousand US dollars in Kwajalein missile range rental funds.

Mr Kabua, who is now a senator, claims that the finance ministry wrongly deducted the money this year as part of a loan repayment agreement which he completed a year ago.

An independent financial consultant employed by the senator is backing up Mr Kabua's claims.

Mr Kabua says he wants to clear his name before he retires from politics.

He has already said that after six terms in parliament he has no plan to run for re-election in next year's general election.