Fiji Cops Rob Tuvaluan Government Official
Friday July 04, 2003
FijiLive.com

A senior Tuvaluan government official was allegedly robbed by two police constables of a fairly large sum of money on Monday night.

The Permanent Secretary for Education in Tuvalu, Seve Peniu, was drinking with a number of locals when he discovered that his wallet was missing.

Police spokesman, Mesake Koroi, said it was claimed that Mr Peniu lost his wallet early on Tuesday morning at the Birdland nightclub in Suva.

The wallet contained $1600 local and international currencies, $1300 Australian and United States currencies in traveller’s cheques and a local draft valued at $1600.

Mr Koroi said police, however, received information on Wednesday morning that two men were trying to cash four US$20 traveller’s cheques at a money exchange counter in central Suva.

He said the cashier at the money exchange counter felt suspicious and reported the matter to the police.

Mr Koroi said the traveller’s cheques had since been identified as part of those reported missing by the Tuvaluan official.

The two constables are being questioned at the Nabua Police Station.

The Director Complaints at the Nabua Police Station, Acting Superintendent Emosi Baleinuku, said the case had been referred to the Professional Standards Department.

Superintendent Baleinuku said they had a team of officers working around the clock on the case and the matter was being treated very seriously.

Mr Peniu, who is staying at the Peninsula International Hotel, could not be reached for comment.

Kakea Kaitu, the Team Tuvalu liaison officer, contacted yesterday said he could not comment on the case although Mr Peniu had told him of the incident.

The Daily Post