7 Aug 2007

Fiji's FIRCA CEO forced to resign

10:00 am on 7 August 2007

The chief executive of the Fiji Islands Revenue and Customs Authority, Tevita Banuve, has left his role following pressure from the interim government that he be dismissed.

The Fiji Times reports that this was revealed by the chairman of the Authority's board, Filipe Bole.

Mr Bole says Mr Banuve did not want to work for the organisation following a raid by investigators of the Fiji Independent Commission Against Corruption last month.

They confiscated certain files, some of which were reported to belong to the suspended chief justice, Daniel Fatiaki.

Mr Bole says the board had wanted Mr Banuve to stay but the government directive could not be reversed.

He said it was a government decision and they are a government board.

Mr Bole said Mr Banuve's one year contract was paid out, after a series of discussions between the two parties.