22 Dec 2005

PNG officials set to quiz three former Fiji soldiers over Bougainville work

9:31 am on 22 December 2005

Three former Fijian soldiers are set to be questioned by police in Papua New Guinea after giving military training to rebels on Bougainville.

The three were hired by the self-proclaimed king and money scheme operator Noah Musingku.

A former Telecom Fiji worker, Isaia Baro, is facing interrogation over claims Mr Musingku invited him to look at setting up a communications system.

Fereti Rokodi and Semi Baroi, have already been questioned by police about their dealings with Mr Musingku, including helping him recruit and train his security force.

PNG's Bougainville Affairs Minister, Sir Peter Barter, says authorities aren't interested in hostile interrogation of the Fijians.

Sir Peter says the men might face charges over breaching immigration rules.

Five former Fijian soldiers remain in a rebel-held area in southern Bougainville and provincial police say they will remove them if they don't leave by next Wednesday.