26 Jan 2004

Fiji ministry boss probed over forgery allegations

4:20 pm on 26 January 2004

One of the 25 chief executive officers appointed this month to head Fiji government ministries is under investigation for forging her qualifications.

Radio Fiji reports that the chief executive listed a Masters Degree and various other qualifications from several universities.

The matter came to light only weeks after the chief executive was sworn into office by the Public Service Commission.

Her application was vetted by a consultant company in Australia, Mercer Consultants, who charged the government half a million US dollars to carry out and independent assessment of applicants.

Senior officials have questioned the qualifications, saying she would have stayed overseas and not returned.