By Adam Hollingworth
The Prime Minister's defended the SIS amid fallout over reports of a plot in Auckland to kill Fiji’s leader.
But a former Fijian government minister, who says his phone and his daughter's laptop were taken, is filing a complaint with the Ombudsman.
Prime Minister John Key doesn't usually comment on SIS actions, but today he spoke of his trust in the organisation.
“You can be quite sure they act within the law, they only act in a considered manner, they're thoughtful, careful and they only act if they believe it's in the best interests of New Zealanders or there's some other particular reason why they should act.”
Mr Key's comments come after a former Fijian government minister Rajesh Singh revealed SIS officers went to his Mount Albert dairy to grill him about a possible plot to kill Fiji's leader.
“She said, ‘Oh, do you know they planned to assassinate Frank Bainimarama?’ I said, ‘Who had plans? It's news to me.' I got a shock.”
Mr Singh says the group met but did nothing wrong.
The Fijian government says it's not aware of any plot either but Mr Bainimarama says in any case it would fail.
“Whether they can come to Fiji to carry it out is a different matter because they're cowards. They can't come to Fiji.”
Speaking from exile in Tonga, one of the alleged plotters Tevita Mara agrees.
“How can you kill a person when he has army and guards with him and 42 bodyguards and all that kind of thing? Who are they trying to fool? They think we're stupid.”
His Fijian military past means Mr Mara is banned from New Zealand, but until now has been granted exemptions to visit.
Mr Key says the Government will take advice on whether he gets another one.
3 News