An email thread sent to the Fiji Revenue and Customs Service (FRCS) from the Fiji Public Service Association (FPSA) has revealed an unusual correspondence.

The email from FPSA was sent by its general secretary, Rajeshwar Singh, to FRCS chief executive officer Visvanath Das, questioning how a FRCS staff member continued to work despite facing charges alleging abuse of office.

What was unusual about the correspondence is that Mr Singh blind copied in a FICAC lawyer, Sam Savumiramira.

Fiji Revenue and Customs Service Director Intelligence Compliance and Investigations Shameen Khan outside Court on October 25, 2018. Photo: Ronald Kumar.

At 12.39pm yesterday Mr Singh sent out an email to the Fiji Sun. It was a letter from Mr Singh to Mr Das. In the email, Mr Singh questioned Mr Das why Shameem Khan, the FRCS’s director compliance, continued to work for FRCS despite being charged by FICAC.

At 12.43pm, Mr Singh sent out a second email, which was a media release, calling for the resignation of Mr Das.

At 5.10pm, FICAC lawyer Mr Savumiramira, using the email address sam.savumiramira@ficac.org.fj replied to the email saying: “Sir, it gets worse here”.

Mr Savumiramira last night said this was an email from him to his manager and mistakenly forwarded to Mr Singh and the Fiji Sun. See details below.

Mr Savumiramira is also the prosecutor in the case against Mr Khan.

FRCS Chief Executive Visvanath Das

FICAC deputy commissioner George Langman was emailed seeking a response on where FICAC stood on this matter and whether this was normal practise for FICAC staff members to email third parties regarding ongoing court cases.

An email was also sent to Mr Singh and Mr Savumiramira. Mr Singh was asked why he had copied in a FICAC lawyer in the correspondence regarding an accused, while Mr Savumiramira was asked why he appeared to be corresponding with Mr Singh on the issue and what he meant by his statement: “Sir, it gets worse here”.

Mr Savumiramira replied to Fiji Sun last night via email: “I have been copied in Rajeshwar Singh’s emails without any reason and I have nothing to do with this correspondence or with any party on the matters he was complaining of.

“I brought this matter to my Manager’s attention and the second email I sent to him stating that ‘it’s getting worse here’ was meant for internal communication only, but mistakenly forwarded to Rajeshwar Singh and you (Fiji Sun).”

FICAC also confirmed they would respond today to queries sent to Mr Langman. 

Edited by Naisa Koroi

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