The Fiji Independent Commission Against Corruption (FICAC) has confirmed receiving a complaint from the Ministry of Multi-Ethnic Affairs and Sugar Industry regarding an alleged abuse of office by the FSC board in relation to the Severe Tropical Cyclone (TC) Winston insurance claims in 2016.
At a recent news conference, Sugar Industry Minister Charan Jeath Singh said he would request a commission of inquiry during the next Cabinet meeting.
FICAC stated the complaint was a pending legal assessment.
“Once it is endorsed for investigation, our team of investigators will conduct its investigation before further decisions are made, depending on the findings of the investigators,” FICAC said in a statement.
The complaint was brought about after Mr Singh highlighted disparities in FSC’s insurance claim for TC Winston.
He had informed the media the initial insurance claim was pegged at about $97million.
However, then FSC chief executive officer and executive chairman Abdul Khan had signed a settlement of about $30m.
Mr Singh said Mr Khan had no authority to do this, and that the Government could not go back and reopen the file because the matter was settled.
He said about $60m was lost as a result of this.
