15 Jan 2010

Fiji police probe church link to government ousted in coup

2:30 pm on 15 January 2010

The Fiji police commissioner, Commodore Esala Teleni, says more members of the National Intelligence Bureau may be sent home as the police investigate links between the Methodist Church and the government ousted in the 2006 coup.

Commodore Teleni has told Fijivillage that the investigation is expected to be completed in a few days.

The probe centres on allegations that the police paid church ministers for them to supply information about the military to the government as the military leaders schemed to stage a coup.

The interim prime minister, Commodore Frank Bainimarama, who led the overthrow in 2006, says the ministers were spying on the military.

Commodore Teleni has so far declined to say what charges could be laid once the investigation is complete.

The interim prime minister has this week banned the Methodists' annual conference for four years over the matter.