Economy Minister Aiyaz Sayed-Khaiyum has hit out at National Federation Party Leader Professor Biman Prasad, who made claims in parliament yesterday that taxpayers are receiving selective treatment at the Fiji Revenue and Customs Service.

Sayed-Khaiyum stressed the FRCS is an independent body by law and asked Professor Prasad to support his claims.¤

Debating on the Fiji Revenue and Customs Service 2016/2017 annual report – Opposition parliamentarian Biman Prasad claimed the organization is being influenced.

“We have been told and I’ve been shown some evidence that there is selective treatment of certain taxpayers by FRCS. And there is allegation that they get instruction from the top. I don’t know what that top is or where that top is.”

Economy Minister, Aiyaz Sayed-Khaiyum then asked Professor Prasad to show evidence.

“Honorable Prasad comes and says I’ve heard this or someone told me this – about individual taxpayers. I love for him to tell us which staff member told that, because he is actually complicit in breaching the confidentiality provisions within the FRCS Act.”

Sayed-Khaiyum even directed Prasad to where he can lodge a report regarding the alleged matter.

“If Honorable Prasad believes there is untoward behavior going on in FRCS, if he has the evidence as he says then I urge him please go to FICAC today and report it. Please do it. Don’t come here and get into this shenanigans and make all sorts of allegations.”

The Minister says government believes there’s a lot of capacity that needs to be built in within FRCS as businesses nowadays are getting more sophisticated.