More than 20 issues flagged in FSC investigation

The Fiji Sports Council chief executive officer Gilbert Vakalalabure will not be the only one investigated when the independent probe begins. 

Deputy board chairman Peter Mazey said the Australian-based investigators arrived on Monday. However, the board has yet to approve the terms of reference. 

Of the more than 20 issues highlighted, Mazey said it could also involve employees of the Council. 

Vakalalabure was initially investigated by Fiji Independent Commission Against Corruption (FICAC) but has since been cleared regarding the alleged abuse of the contra deal between the council and Fiji Airways. 

“The difference between it all, is that FICAC is investigating as against the law and then he was proven that it wasn’t the case to answer. But that was FICAC saying that,” Mazey said. 

“Our investigation that’s going on, is - has he (Vakalalabure) breached it? Has anybody, not just him, in FSC even the board, breached the policies and the laws within the council?”

Board members

The FSC board members was appointed by Minister for Youth and Sports Jese Saukuru are Mazey, Della Shaw Elder, Makarita Lenoa, Semesa Karavaki, Peceli Vosanibola, chairman Peniasi Sokia and board secretary Santesh Shiv Anand. 

Karavaki was a candidate for the Social Democratic Liberal Party who received 365 votes while, 

Vosanibola won 468 votes for The People’s Alliance in the last elections. 

Vosanibola was charged by FICAC with one count of giving false information to a public servant and one count of obtaining financial advantage. He appeared in Court and is still awaiting the no case to answer ruling since last year. 

Karavaki is also a former FNU council chairman. 

Shaw-Elder is the president of weightlifting Fiji. 

Lenoa is the former president for FASANOC (Fiji Association of Sports and National Olympic Committee). 

Sokia was a former board member of the Ba Holdings Limited. 

Mazey is the chief executive officer of the Fiji National Sports Commission. 

“Depending on the terms of reference being approved, they’ll investigate so many points and there’s a lot within each.

“At this time, because we’re leaving everything up to the investigation,” Mazey said.

“I still totally believe in the old saying that you’re innocent until proven guilty. Gilbert was being investigated and as I’ve said before - he hadn’t been found guilty at the time we made any decisions, so the board made decisions.” 

Mazey added the board is yet to discuss if Vakalalabure would be stood down during the investigation process.