The Ministry of Health and Medical Services has suspended the head of its Tobacco Unit, Nafiz Ali, after allegations of misman­agement of funds were noted.

The ministry has referred the matter to the Fiji Inde­pendent Commission against Corruption (FICAC) for

further investigations.

It is alleged that there was misuse of money during projects of aware­ness and enforcement that the Unit was tasked to do.

It is understood that someone had informed the ministry of the al­leged misuse.

Mr Ali was subsequently suspend­ed.

When questioned yesterday, the ministry responded: “The Minis­try of Health and Medical Services acts decisively to hold any and all civil servants to account in any cas­es of suspected abuse, irrespective of rank, file or position.

“In this case, following very seri­ous allegations of financial misap­propriation, the Ministry quickly moved to suspend the Head of the Tobacco Unit and refer the matter to the Fiji Independent Commis­sion Against Corruption for fur­ther investigation.

“As such, the ministry cannot comment further at this time.”

Mr Ali could not be reached to comment last night.

Edited by Naisa Koroi

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