Federal Police to probe claims Nauru bribery claims against Gold Coast company

A GOLD Coast-based company is being investigated by the federal police over its conduct in Nauru.

A GOLD Coast-based company is being investigated by the federal police over its conduct in Nauru.

Foreign Minister Kevin Rudd said yesterday allegations of bribery of foreign officials were being "taken very seriously". The Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade had become aware of the allegations against the wealthy, family-owned company Getax and referred them to the Australian Federal Police and "as this is a law enforcement matter, it would be inappropriate to comment any further".

The AFP said it had accepted for investigation a referral "in relation to allegations of bribery of foreign officials" in Nauru and that the AFP's probe was ongoing.

The Australian revealed yesterday Getax was accused by the President of Nauru, Marcus Stephen, of waging a corrupt campaign to win control of the country's only remaining asset, phosphate.

Members of the Gupta family behind Getax have emphatically denied any wrongdoing and have refused to answer questions about whether Getax played any role in changing the shape of the government in Nauru, which has been racked by political instability and a rolling "state of emergency" this year.

Documentation relating to unusual financial transactions and alleged vote-buying in Nauru's two elections in April and June this year has been provided to Australia's top diplomat in Nauru, George Fraser.

The Foreign Minister of Nauru, Kieren Keke, said: "We have been keeping Australia's high commissioner in Nauru aware and he has information about vote-buying, boats and cars.

"He has been conveying it to Foreign Affairs in Canberra."

However, nobody from the AFP has contacted Nauru's Mr Stephen or members of his cabinet to seek further documentary evidence obtained by the Nauruan government.

The allegations Getax has been trying to influence the political regime in Nauru in order to increase their stake in the country's phosphate are of concern to the Australian government because of the possibility of regime change and that more aid will be needed.

Nauru cabinet minister Roland Kun said that he and a cabinet colleague were questioned about Getax by an analyst from an Australian intelligence agency, the Office of National Assessments, during the officer's visit to Nauru earlier this month.

"He asked us if we had any tangible evidence of an Australian company involved in domestic politics and he asked if we needed help with an investigation into Getax," said Mr Kun.

"He said that Australia would be concerned if there was an Australian company meddling in Nauru's politics and causing significant problems such as the current impasse. He was very well briefed."

Mr Kun said the money made available to opposition politicians this year was highly unusual.

Aloysius Amwano, one of the three members of the government of Nauru to quit and join the opposition after a Getax-sponsored trip to Singapore by 11 of the 18 members of Nauru's parliament, said: "I would be happy for the Australian Federal Police to investigate. What is the crime?"

Mr Amwano said Getax was being treated badly by the government of Mr Stephen, who has asked for Australian government and AFP help to launch an investigation.

Opposition leader Baron Waqa, who has refused to detail the extent of the funding from Getax, said: "I would support an Australian police investigation into all of this."