Police probe Qarase death threat
Thursday August 30, 2007

Police have begun investigating allegation of a threat that ousted Prime Minister Laisenia Qarase would be killed if he returned to Suva, says acting Police Commissioner Eroni Antonio.

Antonio told fijilive that he gave the directive to Assistant Commissioner Crime Nasir for investigations to begin after receiving a written complaint from Qarase's lawyer Tevita Fa early this morning.

In the letter written on August 28 and addressed to Police Commissioner Commodore Esala Teleni, Fa expressed concern about the death threat made to Qarase and asked the police to intervene.

Meanwhile, Qarase's plan to travel to Suva tomorrow has been deferred as a result of the alleged threat and confusion over his air travel.

Qarase had claimed that the military had instructed Air Fiji not to transport him from his island home on Vanuabalavu where he has been isolated since the December 5 coup last year.