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A New Zealander recovering in Fiji after being beaten up by soldiers and police is faking his injuries, the country's leader says.
New Zealand businessman Ballu Khan has been accused of taking part in a plot to kill Fiji's self-appointed leader Frank Bainimarama and other political and military leaders.
Bainimarama seized power in a bloodless military coup last year.
Seventeen people have so far been arrested as part of the alleged plot, and 11 have been charged with crimes including conspiracy to murder.
Khan was badly beaten during his arrest on November 3 and according to a medical examination suffered a fractured skull and cheek bone and psychological effects.
"The psychological effect of his confinement and assault is evident in his inability to sleep and the fact he hasn't eaten for four days," the report said.
Khan was sent to hospital and stayed there until Wednesday last week, when he was taken to a police station and interrogated before being returned to medical care on Friday.
He is yet to be charged with any crime, and Bainimarama today told the Fijilive website Khan was pretending to be ill so he could avoid the allegations against him.
"I had seen the first report that had come out. He had an X-ray and he was checked from head to toe. There was nothing wrong with him then," Bainimarama said.
"With him going unconscious and all that, I think he is faking it.
"He (Khan) is scared of the allegations against him," he said.
Khan's legal team has claimed their client should be allowed to return home for medical attention, but Bainimarama said the New Zealander should not be allowed to leave Fiji.
One of Khan's lawyers, Peter Williams QC, is expected to hold a media conference today.
- AAP
