CLOTHING UP his fortune in off-shore account? As Khaiyum pushes Bill to tackle undeclared income from off-shore investments, did the United Apparel 'CLOTH KING' Ramesh Solanki hide his wealth from former wife?

25/8/2015

Josephine Solanki

THE Tax Administration (Amendment) Bill 2015, Aiyaz Khaiyum claims, is one of the tools he is using to fight the spread of the black economy, involving money laundering and undeclared income from off-shore investment. In June 2013 Fijileaks had published the following story (below) Garment manufacturing tycoon Ramesh Solanki, along with Kalpana, Rajendra Kumar and Meena Jekishan, exposed in the International Consortium of Investigative Journalists’ exploration of the secretive world of offshore companies and tax haven, eliciting comment from one Josephine Solanki (21/8/2015 09:16:03): "Very interesting & not surprised to find. I was married with this tyranny Ramesh Solanki when transaction took place right under my very nose going unnoticed. Surprisingly after he had hidden his monies with his two daughters involvement he presented me with divorce papers in 2007."

Now, sources close to the Solankis' claim that Ramesh Solanki presented in court he had no money under his name and that the company was owned by his three daughters and ownership documents were allegedly backdated which meant Josephine Solanki got nothing from him despite being married and worked daily at their factory United Apparel Fiji Ltd for 15 years of their marriage. Even today, sources claim, he is allegedly hiding his wealth behind his three daughters in case Josephine Solanki makes a claim. Ramesh Solanki was very close to Sitiveni Rabuka (1997-1999); Laisenia Qarase (2000-2006); Bainimarama (2006 to date). Bainimarama gets all his suits done at Solankis'. Khaiyum appointed one of Solanki's nephew as PSC Board Member. Fijileaks could not obtain a comment from Ramesh Solanki.

Fijileaks: This is one of those employers that leads the campaign for the minimum wage to be kept well below the poverty line and over the years succeeded. A $2.32 an hour minimum wage for workers now, with Wages Council's no longer in existence. They have succeeded with previous governments keeping the minimum wage well below $2. They continue to claim business as bad but personally do exceptionally well, if the allegations levelled against them by Josephine Solanki, is true.
Why is this allowed in Khaiyum's Fiji?

From Fijileaks Archive (June 2013):

The Solanki 'Palace' was built around the theme 'Gone With The Wind':

9 Comments

Dekho

25/8/2015 02:15:20 am

It is businessman like Ramesh Solanki who are responsible for the bad reputation the Gujeratis have in Fiji. They are seen as people with no principles, who are prepared to get into bed with any political leader - as this Solanki has done - to make sure nothing interferes with their main purpose in life : make money by hook or crook.

Saamjo

25/8/2015 02:45:50 am

Is there any Prime Minister who has not bestowed the Exporter of the Year award or some such award on this Solanki fala? That will tell you something about this crooked businessman and something about the kind of political leaders Fiji has had : all in the pocket of the rich businessmen.

Felix Anthony

25/8/2015 03:50:32 am

This is one of those employers that leads the campaign for the minimum wage to be kept well below the poverty line and over the years succeeded. A $2.32 an hour minimum wage for workers now, with wages council's no longer in existence. They have succeeded with previous governments keeping the minimum wage well below $2.00. They continue to claim business as bad but personally do exceptionally well. Why is this allowed?

Socho

25/8/2015 03:25:50 pm

If Josephine Solanki as the wife of Ramesh Solanki worked everyday at his garment factory and got nothing imagine what such a scoundrel would have paid the factory floor workers after " convincing " the politicians with appropriate palm greasing that he did not have the " ability " to pay any more than the shit rate he was paying?

Rich Getting Richer

25/8/2015 07:38:21 pm

This is how the rich get richer but honest tax paying citizens can spend their entire life working hard and have very little or nothing at the end of the day. The Government is so bent on boosting investment that it turns a blind eye to exploitation. There is no social justice.

Lilolabawala

25/8/2015 11:15:23 pm

The Solanki Palace reminds one of the obscene opulence of the white plantation owners in the Deep South in America whilst their slave workers lived in squalor .
The Solanki's wealth too was obtained through the exploitation of the workers, through sweat labor .
This is your classic morally bankrupt man and his bimbo wife or ex wife whatever.

Dekho Socho Samjho

26/8/2015 06:22:54 am

My comment posted earlier has not been published by the editor.

Mumtaz Begum Dean

27/8/2015 12:33:05 am

Hi all, not quite the above. I not long ago sold my property situated in Suva. I wanted to go with a very renowned legal firm but their charges to me seemed extremely exurbantant. I regret not engaging them as they are trustworthy family friend. Now I sit back & recall definitely would have been very appropriate. I used an accountant recommended to me to collect my rent, draw my taxes hence & on sale of the settlement there were lots of issues I encountered at age of 85yrs of age. I was taken for a ride. I paid all my taxes & his hirandous fees along the way. I never got any receipt from paying the GVT nor a ledger was produced whereby the money was kept! Was it In a non-interest bearing account or his trust fund of the company account accumulating interest??? The money was transferred to me close to five(5) months after final settlement. I would urge that he as the sole proprietor of his company be investigated accordingly. The Accounting company should be further investigated alongside. it's called K. Kumar & Co. in Cumming Street, Suva Fiji
When one encounters crooked people one cannot get out that easily, pro & cons goes on & on....
Concerned Ex-Citizen of Fiji

Chiku

27/8/2015 01:58:12 pm

Like the plantation owners in Gone With The Wind whose palatial house where built on the blood,sweat and teardrop of exploited labour, the Solanki " palace " too was built on sweatshop labour.
Josephine should feel good she did not receive that dirty money derived on the backs of poor garment factory workers, mostly women and young girls.

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CLOTHING UP his fortune in off-shore account? As Khaiyum pushes Bill to tackle undeclared income from off-shore investments, did the United Apparel 'CLOTH KING' Ramesh Solanki hide his wealth from former wife?

The Solanki 'Palace' was built around the theme 'Gone With The Wind':

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