7 Aug 2012

Complaint to Fiji police against Bainimarama denied

1:05 pm on 7 August 2012

Fiji's interim government has denied that the police have received a complaint against regime leader Commodore Frank Bainimarama.

The Trades Union Congress leader Felix Anthony says he reported last month to the Lautoka Police an incident involving the interim Prime Minister.

The complaint details threats and assaults against him by military officers in February last year.

This follows Mr Anthony's claims last year that he had been punched and kicked by at least five soldiers, leaving him with a damaged eardrum and bruising.

In a statement, the Permanent Secretary of Information, Sharon Smith-Johns, says Mr Anthony has filed a report against some members of the military but neither the Prime Minister nor the Fijian government was included in the complaint.

She says it is premature and mischievous for the media to report on the incident without getting the facts.

Radio New Zealand International queries to police yesterday about the complaint and any investigation were not answered.