Suva Forklift Hire directors clear the air against fake news

The only contracted work undertaken between the Water Authority of Fiji and Suva Forklift Hire was in May 2014.

The company was then paid $1,

334 for the forklift service.

The directors of the company Mohammed Sareem, Mohammed Sakim along with younger brother, the Supervisor of Elections Mohammed Saneem have been made the target of fake news on social media.

The fake news spread by rumour mongers falsely alleged that the brothers were part of a WAF $33 million digger scam.

In a letter to Mr Sareem, WAF chief executive Barry Omundson clarified that apart from the work on May 15 and May 16, 2014, Suva Forklift Hire was “never engaged for work”.

WAF has also clarified that neither the brothers nor the company were used to contract excavators. Mr Sareem has lodged a Police complaint against the fake posts on social media.

“My company has been operating since 2001 and deals with forklift hires, parts and repairs. WAF is not my customer and we have never supplied any machinery for hire to WAF. How can we be part of any scam?

“People are just spreading false news that we are involved. Many people are commenting from overseas in a post posted by a fake account. If anyone has any evidence they should bring it forward and give it to the authorities, Police or FICAC.”

Mr Sareem said the fake news has damaged their reputation.

He said he wanted to make it clear that they were never contracted to WAF for excavation operations and were not under any investigations.

The digger scam issue was highlighted in the Auditor General’s report. Before that an audit by accounting firm KPMG also picked up the discrepancy where contractors charged for idle hours and used bigger machinery for work which could have been done by smaller ones.