Former Acting Deputy Commissioner of the Fiji Independent Commission Against Corruption (FICAC), Francis Pulewai, has publicly addressed her departure for the first time, voicing her concerns regarding the recent appointment of FICAC Commissioner Barbara Malimali. Speaking from Australia, Pulewai expressed profound disappointment in how her situation was managed, suggesting that the very institution she aimed to serve attempted to “victimise” her for performing her duties.
“It was deeply disheartening to witness that the entity I believed would support the rule of law was actually the one that chose to victimise me for simply doing my job,” Pulewai stated. She alleged that the institution appeared to look for a scapegoat, suggesting that she was unfairly targeted.
Pulewai also raised questions about the expedited appointment of Ms. Malimali, who was still under investigation at the time. “Why was this appointment rushed while the individual was still being investigated? That is the core issue,” she remarked. On August 28, she learned that Malimali had been chosen for the role, prompting her to write to the President on August 30, urging caution because of the ongoing investigation into Malimali.
On September 3, Pulewai was contacted by the Attorney-General regarding Malimali’s situation. “I confirmed there was an investigation underway, and we were nearing its conclusion,” she explained. Despite this, Malimali was appointed on September 4 by President Ratu Wiliame Katonivere, based on the recommendation of the Judicial Services Commission.
Following the unfolding events surrounding Barbara Malimali’s appointment, various officials including the Attorney-General Graham Leung and Minister for Justice Siromi Turaga have made statements regarding the matter.
Pulewai disclosed that she was not notified when the Chief Registrar organized a meeting for a formal introduction of the new Commissioner, stating, “I wondered why I wasn’t informed about this. The process was handled improperly.” She mentioned that some managers expressed concerns about having someone under investigation as their leader. “Had the process followed through and Malimali cleared, I wouldn’t have opposed her appointment. My issue lies in the lack of due diligence regarding the ongoing investigation.”
In response to claims that Malimali was detained by FICAC immediately after her appointment, Pulewai clarified that this was a misunderstanding. She explained that Malimali was questioned only after refusing an interview invitation. “There’s a misconception; she was invited for an interview, and her refusal led to our action,” she said. Pulewai also expressed surprise that the Director of Public Prosecutions assessed the case knowing he had a conflict of interest, noting that the investigation was incomplete as Malimali had yet to be interviewed.
Defending her authority, Pulewai stated she had the same power to investigate and prosecute as Malimali had. She also indicated that the Prime Minister was unaware of Malimali’s resignation from the Electoral Commission prior to her new appointment.
Regarding the case against Deputy Prime Minister Biman Prasad, Pulewai confirmed that charges had been prepared, citing clear breaches that would be substantiated by documented evidence. She dismissed Prasad’s assertion that the allegations were “baseless,” noting that due process should take its course in court.
Pulewai addressed concerns about the citizenship status of the complainant, emphasizing that complaints are accepted from individuals regardless of nationality. “Our received complaint was supported by evidence, and we treat all submissions equally to maintain public trust in our system,” she stated.
In a call for transparency amidst chaos within FICAC, Pulewai urged that the appointment process be scrutinized and that the investigation be allowed to conclude before further actions. She also mentioned receiving threats since her departure, reporting an incident where her vehicle’s tyre was slashed, adding, “I have yet to hear from the police and we will see how things unfold.”