INTERIM Prime Minister Commodore Voreqe Bainimarama is yet to make a decision on the fate of his Finance Minister Mahendra Chaudhry, who is at the centre of a controversy involving his alleged failure to declare tax on income earned between 2000 and 2003.
At a press conference yesterday, Commodore Bainimarama said he received a letter from Mr Chaudhry minutes before meeting the media where the Labour leader invited his interim PM to carry out an investigation into allegations of tax anomalies surrounding him and to make public its findings.
"I acknowledge with appreciation Mr Chaudhry's commitment in ensuring transparency and good governance," he said.
"I should point out that when this same matter was first brought to my attention I had taken action on this.
"I had instructed FIRCA to undertake an investigation and report to me.
"That report had categorically stated that there were no breaches of the Income Tax Act by the minister."
At the end of the press conference, reporters were only permitted to ask three questions.
When asked whether Mr Chaudhry would be removed from office, Commodore Bainimarama said: "Like I said, I've only just got the letter."
Asked when he would make a decision on the matter, he told the reporter that when he decided, he would whisper it into the reporter's ear.
As the reporters were ushered out, Commodore Bainimarama thanked them and said he hoped that what he had said was enough to depress the media.
Meanwhile, Mr Chaudhry has instructed his lawyers to file papers and sue The Fiji Times for defamation.
He said the articles published by this newspaper on Saturday were defamatory.
"I will not make any further statements in regard to this issue," he said in a written statement.
"Whatever has to be said must now be stated in court.
"In court The Fiji Times will have to prove the truth of their defamatory statements."
The Fiji Times editor Netani Rika yesterday said the newspaper stood by its story.
The Fiji Islands Revenue and Customs Authority also said in a statement that the right to privacy over tax affairs which the minister enjoyed was not "merely an apparent right, but a real right".
Chief executive officer Jitoko Tikolevu said secrecy of individual tax affairs existed as the cornerstone of the tax system "in all civilised countries".
Without it, the tax authorities would be unable to carry out their duties in the public interest, he said.
"Simply for The Fiji Times to be in possession of documents referred to, delivered to it by those violating the secrecy laws under which FIRCA functions, is itself a serious criminal offence," he said.
"The publication by The Fiji Times of such documents compounds this criminal offence.
"FIRCA will not be involved in any political debate but will always uphold the integrity of the Income Tax Act, and will not publicly discuss taxpayers' tax affairs."
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Previously (Sunday, 25 February):
Saturday, 24 February: