Jese Saukuru has officially returned to his former role as Minister for Youth and Sports after previously being dismissed from the position by Prime Minister Sitiveni Rabuka.
Saukuru took his oath of office at State House a short while ago, marking his return to the Youth and Sports portfolio.
His reinstatement comes months after PM Rabuka removed him from Cabinet amid allegations of abuse of office linked to the Fiji Sports Council.
His return indicates that an inquiry into his conduct related to the Fiji Sports Council may have cleared him.
At the time of his dismissal, Rabuka said the decision was effective immediately and confirmed he would temporarily oversee the Youth and Sports portfolios himself, while Assistant Minister Aliki Bia continued supporting the ministry’s day-to-day operations.
The controversy centred on alleged conflicts of interest and claims that decisions were being made without approval from the Fiji Sports Council Board.
A whistleblower, understood to be a former Fiji Sports Council staff member, alleged that several decisions lacked board endorsement, including claims involving business class travel for Saukuru and his wife under a Fiji Airways contra deal.
The allegations claimed the travel arrangement was approved without formal board consent.
No details were immediately provided today regarding the outcome of the allegations or the reasons behind Saukuru’s reinstatement.
