10 Feb 2005

Top Fiji public servant cleared of corruption allegations

9:14 pm on 10 February 2005

Fiji's parliament has been told that the chief executive of the Fiji Islands Customs and Revenue Authority, Sila Kotobalavu, has been cleared of corruption allegations.

The allegations were made in the Upper House by Labour Senator Felix Anthony and involved corrupt payments to the Attorney General, Qoriniasi Bale.

But the Finance Minister, Ratu Jone Kubuabola, has told the Lower House that an internal inquiry by the board of the Revenue and Customs Authority had found no facts supporting the allegations.

He says the board has cleared Sila Kotobalavu.

Ratu Jone says Senator Anthony had provided no proof of his allegations which the Finance Minister described as baseless.

Ratu Jone says no evidence was found of corruption, "favouritism and abuse of authority."

The Revenue and Customs Authority has now begun an investigation into employees who may have leaked confidential information to Senator Anthony.