11 Mar 2008

Inquiry into tax affairs of Fiji's interim Finance Minister completed

7:18 am on 11 March 2008

The inquiry into the tax affairs of Fiji's interim Finance Minister Mahendra Chaudhry is complete and a report has been given to the interim Prime Minister.

Fiji Live online says the head of the 3-member inquiry team, Brisbane-based lawyer Bruce Cowly and tax specialist, Russell Postle, returned to Australia yesterday.

The third member, former Fiji Education Minister, Taufa Vakatale, told Fiji Live that their report was handed to the interim Prime Minister Commodore Frank Bainimarama.

She says they started their work last Friday and worked right through the weekend.

She adds that the team had all the information they required and did not accept any 'evidence' offered by other interested parties, like the former Fiji Islands Revenue and Customs Authority chief auditor Lepani Rabo.

Taufa Vakatale says people should expect a statement from the interim Prime Minister on the matter soon.