Fiji's interim prime minister, Commodore Frank Bainimarama, has told the Fiji Sun newspaper that Lieutenant-Colonel Neumi Leweni has returned to the military because two top commanders are on leave.
Brigadier-General Pita Driti and Lieutenant-Colonel Ratu Tevita Uluilakeba have been on leave since late October as they had accumulated large entitlements.
Commodore Bainimarama says Lieutenant-Colonel Leweni's switch back is a move to strengthen the Fiji Military Forces.
Lieutenant-Colonel Leweni has been the Permanent Secretary for Lands after serving as the Permanent Secretary for information.
Although he is banned from New Zealand for his role in the 2006 military coup, last January the interim regime in Suva wanted to appoint him as special counsellor in Wellington.
