Update: 8:09AM Fiji Sun newspaper publisher Russell Hunter was detained last night by Immigration officials.

Seven officers went to his home around 8.30pm and took the Australian citizen for questioning.

Newspaper staff said Immigration officers called their office several times yesterday to speak to Mr Hunter.

He referred all calls to his lawyers.

It is believed Mr Hunter was to be questioned over allegations of incitement in connection with a series of news articles published by the Fiji Sun for the past week.

Update: 10.39am Fiji Sun Publisher Russell Hunter's wife Martha has confirmed that her husband left the country on the 8.45am Sydney bound flight out of Nadi today.

"In a way, I am relieved to know where he is because it has been confirmed that he is on that plane," said Mrs Hunter.

"We (she and her daughter) haven't had any sleep since Russ was taken last night just worrying about where he is or how he is."

"We were watching TV last night when seven people came home two came into the house while the other five waited outside in the vehicle."

"The two that came in showed their badges and asked for Russ's passport which he showed."

Mrs Hunter said when they saw that the visa was valid till November next year they issued a paper to Mr Hunter for him to sign.

"Russ asked what it was but they just told him to sign it and he refused to sign saying he needed to get his lawyer."

"The five who were outside got agitated and shouted to the two inside to hurry up and next thing we knew, two of them were at the door."

Mrs Hunter said their home has an electric gate with two security guards and the five men outside forced their way through the gate.

"They hurried him (Hunter) and said they were only taking him up to the office but they didn't say where that was."

She said even though Mr Hunter had his mobile phone with him, this was switched off and they didn't speak to him again but she was hopeful that he would call as soon as he got to Sydney.

She said she and their 13 year old daughter shared the same visa with Mr Hunter which was valid till November 12 next year.

She said they had been receiving a few warnings and Mr Hunter had received a call last week telling him that he would be deported on Wednesday.

She said their lawyer had managed to speak to Mr Hunter as he was being taken away last night by the seven people.

Fiji Times