An opposition leader in Fiji is calling for the prime minister's permanent secretary to resign over the government's links to the Grace Road church.
Shin Ok-ju, the founder of Grace Road Church, was jailed in South Korea in 2019 for enslaving some 400 followers in Fiji. Photo: Grace Road Church
Its leader was jailed by a South Korean court this week for enslaving hundreds of followers in Fiji.
The court said the cult's followers had to endure forced labour at Grace Road's businesses across Fiji, some of which hold lucrative government contacts.
When Shin Ok-ju was arrested last July, the permanent secretary, Yogesh Karan, said there was no reason to investigate Grace Road's activities in Fiji.
The leader of the Sodelpa party, Sitiveni Rabuka, says Mr Karan overstepped his authority in making those comments.
Mr Rabuka also accused the government of turning a blind eye to Grace Road to preserve business links.
He said as a member of the UN Human Rights Council, the government should do more to investigate concerns about modern-day slavery in Fiji.
