 On 27 December 2006, military commander Commodore Voreqe Bainimarama, who had taken power in a military coup on 5 December, suspended Jagannath Sami, the chief executive, the council, and Chairman Vijendra Autar, citing abuse of office, misuse of funds, irregularities in the elections of the Board of Directors and $80,000 growers' funds being used without proper approval by board members who went on a recent trip to India.Commodore Bainimarama also revoked the appointment of eight council members by the deposed government of Laisenia Qarase.On 31 March 2007, former Fiji Labour Party parliamentarian Jai Gawander was appointed as the new chief executive officer of the Council.