SODELPA Suva President Watisoni Nata has lodged a complaint at Totogo Police Station regarding the alleged misuse of a Government Grant from the Secretary General to Parliament to SODELPA, for the administration of the Opposition Office.
In a statement, Nata says in his report to Police today alleges that the SODELPA General Secretary has been using the parliamentary grant to pay his salary in 2021 and that of staff at the SODELPA office at McGregor Road.
It is alleged the grant has also been used to pay legal fees for SODELPA.
Nata alleges in particular that in signing a contract for Lenaitasi Duru as General Secretary with an annual salary of $35,000, the SODELPA President has allegedly misused the parliamentary grant which is intended only for party staff at the SODELPA Caucus Office in Parliament.
He alleges that Duru in paying himself $35,000 salary, is in breach of the SODELPA Management Board resolution that he receive an annual salary of $27,000.
Nata told Police that SODELPA has not had a National Treasurer since April 2021 and that anyone signing cheques misusing the grant must be investigated for theft.
When questioned by fijivillage, Lenaitasi Duru says this is an internal issue and not a criminal case.
Duru says he has not received any information from Police regarding this complaint.
He says Nata being a very senior member of SODELPA is being immature.
