Former Prime Minister and leader of the Fiji Labour Party, Mahendra Chaudhry, has alleged that certain Ministers currently under investigation by FICAC for submitting false declarations to the Registrar of Political Parties and for involvement in corrupt practices are obstructing the process of appointing a new Commissioner for FICAC.
Chaudhry indicated that these Ministers are attempting to evade prosecution by seeking to remove the ongoing cases from Acting Assistant Commissioner Francis Puleiwai’s oversight, aiming to install a Commissioner of their choosing.
He previously noted reports regarding the Chairperson of the Electoral Commission, Barbara Malimali, allegedly interfering with the Registrar’s decision to file complaints against the Ministers with FICAC.
“A report concerning Malimali has been submitted to FICAC, which acknowledged it, and we anticipate that this issue is under investigation,” Chaudhry stated.
He emphasized concerns about FICAC’s independence under Puleiwai, claiming that the agency is experiencing considerable pressure regarding its inquiries into the Ministers. Additionally, Chaudhry revealed that the Fiji Labour Party has received information suggesting that Malimali may have applied for the FICAC Commissioner’s position, raising questions about her suitability for consideration.