The Commissioner of the Fiji Independent Commission Against Corruption (FICAC), Barbara Malimali, has filed a police complaint against former acting deputy FICAC Commissioner Francis Pulewai. This was confirmed by Acting Police Commissioner Juki Fong Chew.
The complaint is related to allegations of abuse of power, accusing Ms. Pulewai of overstepping her authority while she was acting in the commissioner role. On her first day at work, September 5, Ms. Malimali was arrested and held at the FICAC headquarters.
The situation, referred to as the Barbara-Gate saga due to its political implications, has attracted the attention of the government, with Prime Minister Sitiveni Rabuka suggesting a potential Board of Inquiry over the weekend. Attempts to reach Ms. Malimali for comment were unsuccessful, and Ms. Pulewai has stated that she has not been informed about the complaint. She departed for Australia during the week following her resignation.
Last week, Prime Minister Rabuka mentioned that he had not yet received a formal resignation letter from Ms. Malimali. However, he later confirmed via his official Facebook account that he had received an email from the Solicitor-General at 8:17 am on September 14, verifying Ms. Malimali’s resignation as Chair of the Electoral Commission. He noted that she is now the newly appointed Commissioner of FICAC.
Deputy Prime Minister Manoa Kamikamica alleged that FICAC was influenced politically during the prior government, but asserted that this has not been the case under the Coalition Government. He acknowledged that FICAC may have strayed off course and supported the Prime Minister’s decision to investigate the organization’s past operations, emphasizing that it was misused by the previous administration.
Ioane Naivalurua, leader of the G9 crossbenchers, endorsed Mr. Rabuka’s inquiry as essential for good governance. Opposition Leader Inia Seruiratu has urged the Prime Minister to follow through with the inquiry regarding Ms. Malimali’s appointment and the alleged interference issues.
Fiji Law Society President Wylie Clarke stated that it is ultimately up to the Prime Minister to decide on the matter.