Francis Pulewai, the former Acting Deputy Commissioner of the Fiji Independent Commission Against Corruption (FICAC), has publicly addressed her resignation and the contentious appointment of Barbara Malimali as the new FICAC Commissioner. In her statements from Australia, Pulewai expressed significant disappointment regarding her situation, claiming that the institution she aimed to serve attempted to “victimize” her for fulfilling her responsibilities.
She stated, “It was really disappointing to me to see that the very arm of Government I was hoping would uphold the rule of law and do the right thing were the very people who, I would say, victimized me for just doing my job.” Pulewai suggested that officials were looking for a scapegoat and perceived her as the target for blame.
Pulewai also raised concerns about the rushed nature of Malimali’s appointment while she was still under investigation. “The question that needs to be asked is, why was the appointment rushed when the person appointed was still being investigated? That’s the bottom-line question,” she said. Following the announcement of Malimali’s appointment on August 28, Pulewai promptly alerted the President about the ongoing inquiry into Malimali, advocating for caution in finalizing her role.
Despite this, Malimali was appointed on September 4 by President Ratu Wiliame Katonivere based on a recommendation from the Judicial Services Commission, ignoring the pending investigation. Pulewai noted that she was not notified about a formal introduction of the new Commissioner, further questioning the process leading to Malimali’s appointment.
Pulewai clarified a misconception surrounding an incident where Malimali was reportedly detained. She explained that Malimali’s detainment occurred after she declined to be interviewed by FICAC, not because of an arrest.
Additionally, Pulewai defended her authority to conduct investigations as Acting Deputy Commissioner and stated that the Prime Minister was not informed of Malimali’s prior resignation from the Electoral Commission before her appointment.
Regarding ongoing investigations into Deputy Prime Minister Biman Prasad, Pulewai confirmed that charges had been drafted related to breaches of the Political Parties Act and emphasized the importance of allowing the judicial process to determine the matter in court.
Furthermore, she addressed concerns about the complainant’s citizenship status, stating that complaints are accepted regardless of the individual’s background, as each case is treated with equal importance.
Concluding her remarks, Pulewai called for transparency and accountability within FICAC, lamenting the chaotic situation and urging the Prime Minister to allow a board of inquiry to investigate the irregularities in Malimali’s appointment. She also reported receiving threats since her resignation, highlighting a punctured tire incident on her vehicle before leaving for Australia, which has gone unaddressed by local police.