The Fiji Independent Commission Against Corruption has ended its investigation into allegations of breach of procedures by some current and former University of the South Pacific staff.
FICAC informed the USP Council of its decision to cease the investigation on Monday saying the allegations were administrative in nature and purported non‑compliance with relevant USP procedures.
The USP Council says the correspondence from FICAC stated that the unauthorised reference of the allegations by some USP staff to FICAC was premature as internal investigations provided for by USP policies had not taken place.
According to the USP Council, FICAC has conveyed that it respects the decision by the Council to engage an Independent Investigator to carry out its own investigations into the allegations.
But there is confirmation that FICAC will retain all the records in safe custody and upon request will deliver the material to the Independent Investigator.
The Independent Investigator hired by the USP Audit and Risk Committee will start its investigation next week. The investigation report is due by the 16th of August.
The allegations are laid out in a leaked confidential report which was presented to the Executive Committee of the USP Council in March this year.
The report was put together by USP Vice‑Chancellor Professor Pal Ahluwalia.
It details allegations of quick appointments and contract renewals for some senior members of the university ‑ many of them work at the Laucala campus in Fiji.
There are also details of an alleged breach of policy in past financial decisions as well as questionable promotions and questionable allowances for some staff.
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