The Fiji prime minister's office has called for urgent investigations into abuse of the Labour Party's taxpayer-funded parliamentary office.
The request has been confirmed by the acting secretary general to parliament, Viniana McGoon, and follows allegations that a former journalist and close friend of the Labour leader, Mahendra Chaudhry, has been using the office facilities for private purposes.
A government statement says the journalist, Asha Lakhan, has also been using the office telephone to call Mr Chaudhry when he was travelling overseas.
The allegations surfaced when the Labour Party's just resigned chief administrative officer, John Ali, called on the prime minister, Laisenia Qarase, and the secretary general to parliament to investigate illegal activities at the party's parliamentary office.
Mr Ali said two Labour Party employees who are paid by taxpayers funds through the parliament are working for the National Famers Union which is also led by Mr Chaudhry.
Mr Ali said many illegal activities were going on in the office, including its abuse by the woman journalist, and he was prepared to give evidence about this to the investigating team.
