18 Sep 2018

Company linked to alleged bribery in Nauru received refugee housing contract

3:46 pm on 18 September 2018

It's been revealed a company linked to the alleged bribery of officials in Nauru received a contract to build refugee housing on the island.

Nauru

Nauru Photo: AFP or licensors

Last week Australian police arrested and charged a director of Radiance International Pty, Mozu Bhojani, with one count of conspiracy to bribe a foreign public official.

The police allege the Sydney-based businessman provided Nauruan officials with more than $US70,000 in kickbacks in exchange for favourable phosphate shipments for Radiance International.

The police allege the bribery took place between 2015 and 2018.

Peter Crozier of the Australian Federal Police told the ABC programme 7.30 the alleged payments were made to obtain "business advantage in Nauru".

"There were direct contacts between individuals who then facilitated through different financial accounts and the like, the provision of what we allege to be bribes."

Mr Bhojani was arrested on Thursday after a three-year investigation by the Australian Federal Police.

He is to appear in court again in November.

ABC Radiance International Inc received a contract for building refugee accommodation on Nauru worth $US1.8 million between December 2016 and July 2018.