No suspension for Allsworth, Cook Islands

Wilkie Rasmussen. 10060756 Finance Minister Wilkie Rasmussen says it is premature to consider suspending director of audit Paul Allsworth following allegations of ‘criminal misconduct’ levelled by former financial secretary Sholan Ivaiti. Rasmussen, also minister for the Public Expenditure and Review Committee and Audit (PERCA), responded to CI News questions on Tuesday saying he prefers to wait and see what police will do with the complaint before considering actions such as suspension. In Ivaiti’s letter of complaint, dated June 25 and received by Rasmussen on Monday, he recommends Allsworth be suspended and a full independent investigation of his actions be undertaken.