"One Down, Two To Go" - Says Analyst

Issue No: 909 4 July 2001

One key witness in the terrorist case is gone and two are left. This view was heard being expressed by someone associated with Fiji Police after the brutal murder of Red Cross Director John Scott.

The person referred to three key witnesses to the terrorists' treason trial. The other two names included those of the elected Prime Minister Mahendra Chaudhry and the deposed President Ratu Sir Kamisese Mara. The person, with close contacts with the police department, was overheard by some western businessman when he was analysing the murder of Scott.

The Police Department, on the other hand, has denied that there is any link between the terrorists and the murder of Scott and his partner. It says that the link is "quite far-fetched at this moment". Police are focussing on Scott's personal contacts, including the members of the gay community, and a drug pusher. Scott reportedly had a thanks-giving party at his home on the eve of his murder.

But there is confusion on whether Scott would have been a state witness. The police department has informed the media that Scott's statement to the police was still being processed. On the other hand, the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions has informed the media that Scott had withdrawn from being a state witness on account that it would prejudice his independent position as Director of the Red Cross.

It is understood that Scott had compiled a 30-page report on what he had seen and heard during the terrorist crisis.

Meanwhile it has been revealed that a very senior police officer, who has been implicated with being in cohorts with the terrorists, had advised Scott to take a `no-see, no-hear' attitude in regards to the terrorist crisis. It is understood that Scott overheard some very sensitive discussions going on in and outside the Parliament Complex when the terrorists had control over it, and he had access to important information from the terrorists who are held in detention on Nukulau.

Scott's partner Gregory Scrivner had earlier stated that Scott feared the police most.

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