One of the men claimed to be behind an assassination plot against the Prime Minister of Fiji says the accusations are ludicrous, and completely untrue.
A Fiji man living in Auckland, Rajesh Singh, says police have told him the former Fiji Army officer Ratu Tevita Uluilakeba Mara, and the former head of Fiji's water authority, Anthony Fullman, discussed ways to kill Frank Bainimarama and the country's Attorney General.
New Zealand police searched Mr Singh's house on Tuesday, and seized a laptop and cellphone.
Ratu Tevita, who now lives in Tonga, says he's never thought of doing such a thing.
"Absurd news to me, it's the first time I've heard about it and I'm quite surprised about they have put the blame for us on that. I've never heard of such a thing, it has never crossed my mind."
Ratu Tevita says he wouldn't be surprised to hear of an assassination plot, because most people in Fiji want democracy restored.
Neither the New Zealand police, nor the New Zealand prime minister, John Key, who is also the Minister in charge of the SIS, would comment.
Commodore Bainimarama survived an assassination attempt 12 years ago during a mutiny in Suva.
