Fiji’s Registrar of political parties Mohammed Saneem has referred SODELPA to the Fiji Independent Commission Against Corruption (FICAC) for breach of political parties act over non-disclosure of sources of funding.
In a statement, Saneem said the party failed to specify its “exact source of funds” amounting to close to $2 million over a five-year period, beginning 2015.
“Due to the high number of instances of the breaches and also the lack of compliance with accounting rules and standards, in particular, the raising of receipts, doubt is cast on the Audit Report received by the Registrar. Given the above, the Registrar refers the Independent Auditor, I. Naiveli & Co. to FICAC under section 26(5) of the Act,” Saneem said.
Saneem claims that between 2015 and 2019, the party did not disclose where it had acquired $1,990,000.54 as required under section 17 of the Act.
i. In 2015, the Party failed to issue receipts for $290,883.00
ii. In 2016, the Party failed to issue receipts for $304,129.90
iii. In 2017, the Party failed to issue receipts for $415,864.71
iv. In 2018, the Party failed to issue receipts for $507,938.88
v. In 2019, the Party failed to issue receipts for $471,184.05
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In the statement, Saneem said a lot of the disclosures were noted as bulk payments “that are not permitted by law and exceed the maximum donation requirements.”
“Such manner of recording income also prevents the Registrar from verifying the exact amount of donations that a person has made,” he said.
Furthermore, Saneem said under section 21(4) of the Act, the Registrar found that the following persons from SODELPA who held Office at the material time have failed to disclose information in relation to the funds obtained by the party.
- a. 2015 – President – Ratu Silivenusi Waqausa, Registered Officer – Late Pio Tabaiwalu.
- b. 2016 – President – Ratu Naiqama Lalabalavu, Registered Officer – Adi Litia Qionibaravi
- c. 2017 – President – Ratu Naiqama Lalabalavu, Registered Officer – Adi Litia Qionibaravi
- d. 2018 – President – Ratu Naiqama Lalabalavu, Registered Officer – Adi Litia Qionibaravi
- e. 2019 – President – Ratu Naiqama Lalabalavu, Registered Officer – Adi Litia Qionibaravi
