12 Dec 2017

Police questioning of Fiji opposition MP condemned

9:36 am on 12 December 2017

The President of Fiji's National Federation Party has described the questioning of one the party's MPs as persecution and intimidation.

Police questioned Pramod Chand for three hours on Friday and one more on Saturday after he was accused of making seditious comments.

70710201 - lautoka, fiji -  dec 30 2016:fijian police officers patrolling in the main street. the fiji police force annual statistics reveal an 18% increase in crime cases in 2015.

70710201 - lautoka, fiji - dec 30 2016:fijian police officers patrolling in the main street. the fiji police force annual statistics reveal an 18% increase in crime cases in 2015. Photo: rafaelbenari/123RF

The NFP president Pio Tikoduadua said the interrogation of Mr Chand was harassment by police on the government's orders.

Mr Tikoduadua claims a threat was made against Mr Chand in Parliament by the Attorney General Aiyaz Sayed-Khaiyum in September.

He said Mr Sayed-Khaiyum said he had a statutory declaration about Mr Chand which he would reveal later.

Fiji Finance Minister, Aiyaz Sayed-Khaiyum

Fiji Finance Minister, Aiyaz Sayed-Khaiyum Photo: Supplied

The NFP president said the government orchestrated the questioning over the contents of a statutory declaration made by a teacher about comments Mr Chand allegedly made in a shop in August.

Mr Tikoduadua said Mr Chand was being targeted after an exchange with the Prime Minister over his role in the May 2000 coup, which Mr Chand first spoke about in Parliament on September the 13th.

No charges have yet been laid against Mr Chand.