Saukuru declines comment as Fiji Sports Council probe continues

Terminated Minister for Youth and Sports Jese Saukuru has declined to comment on corruption-related allegations linked to the Fiji Sports Council (FSC), saying the matter is under independent investigation.

“I can’t make any comments at the moment because I am under investigation,” Mr Saukuru said outside Parliament on Wednesday.

He was asked whether he had presented a traditional apology to the Prime Minister at the Office of the Prime Minister last week in an attempt to avoid termination. Mr Saukuru did not respond to the question.

Prime Minister Sitiveni Rabuka last week removed Mr Saukuru from his ministerial position and directed the FSC board to suspend its chief executive officer, Gilbert Vakalalabure.

The move followed allegations of abuse of office and misuse of funds.

“It is important that the appropriate investigative and legal processes are allowed to proceed so that the facts can be fully established and the necessary actions taken based on the findings,” Mr Rabuka said in a statement last Saturday.

Mr Saukuru is alleged to have misused a ‘contra’ ticketing agreement between the FSC and Fiji Airways, allowing his wife to travel business class using the council’s contra tickets. Mr Saukuru had earlier offered to reimburse the airfare.

The controversy also follows the clearing of a corruption-related case against Mr Vakalalabure by the Fiji Independent Commission Against Corruption (FICAC), headed by his sister-in-law, Acting Commissioner Lavinia Rokoika.

Mr Saukuru had earlier welcomed FICAC’s decision regarding Mr Vakalalabure, just days before details of his wife’s travel were made public.

Separate allegations claim Mr Vakalalabure caused more than $1 million in losses to the FSC.

Attempts to get a comment from Mr Vakalalabure were unsuccessful.

The FSC oversees the development and management of sports facilities and programmes across Fiji.

Investigations into the matter are ongoing.