CAPTION: Attorney-General Aiyaz Sayed-Khaiyum. File Photo.
The Fijian Government presented a check to the Australian Government for funds restrained and forfeited in Fiji involving an Australian fraud case.
The cheque – worth FJ$88,974.97 – was for funds that had been recovered from two bank accounts held in Fiji by Mr Ross William Macarthur, who had defrauded the Australian Government by failing to pay certain excise duties, owed by his company Concourse Oil Pty Limited.
Speaking after the presentation, Attorney-General Mr Aiyaz Sayed-Khaiyum said that the Bainimarama Government has and will always fulfil its international obligations, in this case providing legal assistance to the Australian Government.
“No matter what the status of our diplomatic relations with another nation, this Government is committed to acting as a good international citizen and will never shirk its obligation to work with others to combat international and transnational crime and fulfil any of its legal obligations,” he said.
The Attorney-General said that it is unfortunate that some countries have let their foreign policy agenda effect their cooperation in combating crime and providing mutual assistance.
“The Bainimarama Government has taken a different position: an apolitical approach. Foreign policy should not and cannot ever be an excuse for our law enforcement agencies not to join forces in the fight against the many different types of crime and transnational crime we face in the region and globally,” he said.
MINFO