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*Fijileaks: In 1982, our Founding Editor-in-Chief covered for the old Fiji Sun (later shut down by Rabuka after his two coups) Himmat Lodhia's criminal trial in the Suva Magistrates Court where the owner of Lords Jewellers in Suva was accused of buying stolen jewellery from Indo-Fijian burglars and re-selling them to Indo-Fijians, mostly female customers. The prosecution had alleged that Lodhia provided the identities of the customers to the burglars for them to target his customers. Many of the stolen jewellery were on sale in his shop. He claimed he was unaware that they were stolen from poor Indo-Fijian homes.
Lodhia had (and still has) very close links with Rabuka's co-conspirator coupist and turncoat FFP 'big chief' Ratu Inoke Kubuabola, the former Minister for Foreign Affairs.
Last week, Rabuka became Prime Minister and Minister for Foreign Affairs.
*Kubuabola and Lodhia's connection go back to 1987, when Lodhia had become the Minister of State for Indian Affairs post-Rabuka coups; in August 1992 he was forced to resign after the Fiji police launched an investigation into his company for the disappearance from the customs bond of $67,000 of imported jewellery.
"I like to acknowledge a special friend who is here this afternoon. Some of you know hi, some of you know of him. We have been friends since he was involved , and I supervising him him the Duke of Edinburgh Awards Scheme. I was rewarded when he was awarded the gold medal...HIMMAT LODHIA.My brother and friend. Him and I go back many years when people were turning away from me. Himmat came along and befriended me. I took him to Washington to attend the Presidential Prayer Breakfast. We came back and the Brothers in America bought him a Bible. That Bible sits in his office in Cumming St today. (Loud applause).
He is here today with his brother Harish. WELCOME (Loud Applause)
Sitiveni Rabuka at the Vodafone Area, Suva
From Fijileaks Archive, 6 February 2015
A LENGTHY investigation by Fijileaks Investigation Team into the former i-Taukei Movement leader, the racist Ratu Inoke Kubuabola, the present Fijian Foreign Minister has resulted in some unexpected findings. The Team found that he did not dip into FijiFirst Party coffers for election funding to fight the September 2014 general election.
Instead, it has been established that the Fiji Retailers Association president Himmat Lodhia allegedly bankrolled Kubuabola's campaign to a tune of thousands of dollars. Kubuabola and Lodhia's connection go back to 1987, when Lodhia had become the Minister of State for Indian Affairs post-Rabuka coups; in August 1992 he was forced to resign after the Fiji police launched an investigation into his company for the disappearance from the customs bond of $67,000 of imported jewellery. The reward for allegedly funding his golf playing loyalist Kubuabola's election campaign:
(i) Lodhia's son Deemant Lodhia, with no knowledge of international affairs, was inducted into the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Development in Suva on Kubuabola's instructions; Special Assistant to the Minister of Foreign Affairs, February 2014–August 2014 (7 months) and later posted to Fiji's High Commission in Canberra, Australia, as First Secretary where he is presently stationed;
(ii) Another under-qualified individual in international relations, one Rupika Nandan, has been appointed as SENIOR Adviser to Kubuabola in the Foreign Ministry because of her close friendship with the Lodhias' which she forged in New Zealand. Fijileaks understands both Nandan and Deemant Lodhia hold New Zealand citizenship.
(iii) Himmat Lodhia's brother Harish is already Fiji's Honorary Consul in New Zealand, appointed by Kubuabola.
*In Rupika Nandan's case, it must be a bitter sweet revenge; until recently she could only watch from outside into the Foreign Ministry where her 'jilted lover and kama sutra' professor, the former University of Fiji Vice-Chancellor Mahendra Kumar, was Director of Climate Change. Fijileaks has been reliably informed that her job was not advertised.
*But as long as one is in the sulu of Kubuabola via the dhoti of Lodhia, the job is for your asking!
*But did Kumar, a squash playing buddy of Lodhia, recommend his "Lovebird" for the job in Kubuabola's Foreign Ministry?
