21 Sep 2005

Two prominent Fijians alleged to have financed bombing plans in 1999

9:39 am on 21 September 2005

A former Fiji coup convict has alleged that a business consultant and the head of an air traffic control company had backed and arranged finance to carry out bombings in Suva and Nadi after the Chaudhry government came to power in 1999.

The FIJI SUN says this has been disclosed by a former explosives expert with Emperor Gold Mines and now Australian resident, Maciu Navakasuasua.

Mr Navakasuasua alleges that the former Fiji Development Bank chairman and now business consultant, Navitalai Naisoro, and the head of Strategic Air Services Limited at Nadi, Watisoni Nata, were behind the bombings.

Mr Navakasuasua told Fiji police in Sydney in June that Mr Naisoro had told him to collect some cash at the Dominion Hotel in Nadi to fund activities to destabilise the Chaudhry government.

He says he was given some money for planning while his partner in the project, Save Tomasi, was given money to make bombs to demolish the Nadi Airport terminal.

Both Mr Naisoro and Mr Nata have denied the allegations and say they have never met Mr Navakasuasua.

Watisoni Nata says his name could be dragged in because of his brother, Josefa Nata, who is serving a life sentence for treason for his role in the coup.