2 Nov 2006

Fiji's police commissioner was wrong, says military

7:45 am on 2 November 2006

Fiji's military has rejected claims by the police commissioner, Andrew Hughes, that it had illegally and forcefully removed seven and a half tonnes of ammunition from Suva wharf yesterday.

Mr Hughes claimed that the military had removed the ammunition without an import licence which is issued by the police and he had ordered a criminal investigation into the incident.

But the military has denied it did anything illegal.

Instead, it has produced a valid licence issued to the Republic of Fiji Military Forces authorising it to import arms and ammunition.

The licence is signed by a superintendent of police on behalf of Mr Hughes, dated September 28th this year and valid for six months from that date.

The licence does not expire until the 27th of March next year.

The military spokesman, Major Neumi Leweni, says they did not do anything illegal and simply took the ammunition that belonged to them under normal security escort.