Police have opened a formal assessment into allegations involving the permanent secretary for iTaukei Affairs after the minister lodged a complaint with police, authorities confirmed on Thursday.
Police spokesperson Ana Naisoro said the matter is now before investigators. She confirmed Minister for iTaukei Affairs Ifereimi Vasu met with Commissioner of Police Rusiate Tudravu and formally lodged a complaint asking that all allegations made publicly by his permanent secretary, Jone Navakamocea, be analysed. “A team from the CID will analyse the allegations, and any criminal elements found will be investigated,” Naisoro said.
The move signals an escalation from public accusations to a formal, independent review by the Criminal Investigations Department. If the CID identifies any criminality in its assessment, Naisoro said investigators would proceed with appropriate inquiries and potential charges in line with established procedures.
In a statement, the Office of the Ministry of iTaukei Affairs said Mr Vasu had requested the police investigation “in the interest of transparency and accountability,” and welcomed an independent probe as the proper avenue to establish the facts. The ministry also urged the public to refrain from spreading unverified information while the matter is being assessed.
The case centres on claims made by permanent secretary Jone Navakamocea that have attracted public attention and prompted calls for clarity. Police and the ministry declined to provide details of the allegations, saying those will be considered by the CID as part of its analysis. No timetable for the investigation was provided.
This development represents the latest phase in a dispute that moved from the public domain into the criminal justice system. Moving the matter to the CID means the allegations will be examined against criminal standards rather than dealt with solely as an internal administrative or political matter, a step the ministry framed as ensuring all issues are handled through proper legal processes.
Police said further updates will be provided as the CID completes its assessment and determines whether any offences have been committed. Both the ministry and police reiterated calls for responsible public behaviour pending the outcome of the inquiry.
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