Police question Fiji SDL party members further

08/09/2008 16:50:41

Police in Fiji have obtained more statements from several members of the ousted government of Prime Minister Laisenia Qarase.

This follows complaints, lodged by Mr Qarase's SDL party, with police against military commander Frank Bainimarama and members of his government.

Two days after lodging a complaint of treason against Commodore Bainimarama and members of his cabinet and key supporters, detectives from the Fiji Police visited the headquarters of Mr Qarase's SDL party.

Detectives wanted another statement from one of Mr Qarase's ousted cabinet ministers, Ted Young, about events leading to his removal from office during the coup of 5 December, 2006.

Mr Young was accompanied to the Raiwaqa Police Station by party lawyer Niko Nawaikula, SDL party director Peceli Kinivuwai and several other party members.

Mr Young, who was minister for regional development in Mr Qarase's cabinet, said he feared for his safety when two truckloads of police and army officers came looking for him at his Suva home during the weekend.

He also reiterated the party's call for Commissioner of Police Commodore Esala Teleni to step aside to allow for a full police investigations into the treason complaint.

But Fiji police say they will not be investigating the treason complaint lodged by SDL party members.

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