Parmod Chand is under investigation for alleged seditious comments because it is about the security of the nation - Qiliho

Police Commissioner Sitiveni Qiliho has today clarified that National Federation Party parliamentarian Parmod Chand is under investigation for allegedly making seditious comments because it is about the security of the nation.

Qiliho also stresses that it has nothing to do with any statements made by Chand in parliament.

Chand told Radio NZ that he spent about three hours on Friday being questioned at the Police Criminal Investigations Department in Labasa.

Chand also said that he was told that a member of the public ‑ he's not sure who ‑ had laid a complaint about something he said on the floor of parliament in September.

NFP President Pio Tikoduadua says the NFP claims that Chand’s interrogation by police for allegedly making seditious statements is alleged political persecution, harassment and intimidation by the Fiji Police Force on alleged orders from Government. 

Tikoduadua said in a statement that this is clear from the comment made by the Attorney General Aiyaz Sayed‑Khaiyum in parliament on September 14th this year where Sayed-Khaiyum told Chand that he had a statutory declaration about him which he will reveal later on.

Chand is being questioned over the contents of a statutory declaration made by a school teacher about comments that Chand allegedly made in the school teacher’s presence in a shop on the 14th of August this year. 

Police Commissioner Qiliho says Police will continue to do their work as it is a serious allegation against Parmod Chand.

Police Commissioner Qiliho says Police will continue to do their work as it is a serious allegation against Parmod Chand.

Qiliho also says that he is not worried about political statements about their work as Police are working on ensuring the safety and security of the nation.