PRIME Minister Sitiveni Rabuka says Jese Saukuru will be reinstated to his former role as Minister of Youth and Sports if the investigation into his involvement with the Fiji Sports Council (FSC) saga does not find him culpable.
This comes after Saukuru was sacked from the role yesterday and the Prime Minister assuming the role with immediate effect.
Rabuka told this to reporters at the Novotel Suva Lami Bay Hotel in Lami yesterday, where he was present to officiate at the launch of the country’s new anti-doping organisation, Drug Free Sport Fiji.
The logo’s launch was made during the National Sporting Organisations Conference, where representatives from 32 sporting bodies were present.
He was asked if Saukuru would be reinstated to the role if the investigation turned out as such.
Meanwhile, the Prime Minister announced Saukuru’s dismissal from the role in a statement via the official account of the Fiji Government on the social media platform Meta (formerly Facebook) yesterday.
He said the immediate dismissal stemmed from the seriousness of the allegations raised, ensuring due process was respected and for the relevant authorities to carry out their work without interference.
This move, he said, would allow the Fiji Police Force to conduct a thorough investigation into allegations of abuse of office relating to the Fiji Sports Council.
Saukuru’s dismissal comes after he was mentioned as a part of the allegations where it stated he flew in business class with his wife to New Zealand via a Fiji Airways contra deal with FSC for a Fijian rugby sevens tournament in Hamilton last year.
He is also part of the People’s Alliance Party, of which Rabuka is its leader, where he earned a seat in Parliament and then Cabinet after securing 2759 votes in the 2022 General Elections.
Meanwhile, it is understood the former minister was returning from Kadavu when the announcement of his dismissal was made public.
