KEY POINTS:
Ballu Khan has been a controversial figure in Fiji business and political circles since winning a US$9.2 million ($12 million) contract in 2004 to supply a new computer system and maintenance services to the Native Lands Trust Board, which administers indigenous land holdings throughout the island nation.
The Fiji Labour Party called at the time for a commission of inquiry into the awarding of the contract to Pacific Connex, a joint venture between the trust board and Mr Khan's own company, Tui Consulting.
An independent audit report this year by accountants KPMG Australia severely criticised the trust board for allegedly failing to conduct a proper investigation before buying the computer system.
KPMG also recommended the board seriously reconsider its business relationship with Pacific Connex.
The report said Pacific Connex was in financial difficulties and in receipt of a loan of US$2.4 million ($3.1 million) from the trust board.
Mr Khan had close ties with the Government of Laisenia Qarase, who was deposed in December in a bloodless coup by military chief Commodore Frank Bainimarama.
Soldiers loyal to Commodore Bainimarama raided Mr Khan's Suva home and Pacific Connex's offices four days after the coup, seizing documents.
Mr Khan was overseas at the time, but the military arrested six Pacific Connex bodyguards said to be former members of the Fiji army's Counter Revolutionary Warfare Unit, which was heavily involved in the 2000 coup attempt by businessman George Speight and implicated in an attempt to assassinate Commodore Bainimarama.
Pacific Connex has also been involved in a bitter commercial struggle with a Caribbean-owned telecommunications company for a licence to supply cellphone services against a monopoly now held in Fiji by Vodafone.
Mr Khan, who is in his late 40s, remains listed on the Tamaki electoral roll, at a St Heliers address where his wife and two adult sons live. In 2003, he made financial contributions to the Blues rugby franchise in a bid to keep Carlos Spencer out of the clutches of European clubs.
