Ana Mataiciwa, the Supervisor of Elections, has formally lodged a complaint against Barbara Malimali, the former Chairperson of the Electoral Commission, accusing her of multiple offenses, including abuse of office, harassment, and intimidation.
In a letter addressed to FijiLive, Mataiciwa detailed allegations that the newly appointed Commissioner for the Fiji Independent Commission Against Corruption (FICAC) had engaged in harassment and intimidation directed at Mataiciwa and other members of the Fijian Elections Office (FEO), who are key witnesses in an ongoing case concerning Malimali’s past conduct as Chairperson.
Mataiciwa asserts that Malimali misused her previous position to obtain sensitive information from the Electoral Commission, utilizing it to further intimidate both the FEO and the Supervisor of Elections amidst the current investigations into her actions.
The complaint sheds light on a significant incident from September when FICAC conducted a raid at the Electoral Commission Office, which subsequently prompted the commission to seek legal assistance from the FEO’s legal team.
Mataiciwa has expressed concerns that Malimali’s behavior could be perceived as a targeted effort to undermine the credibility of the FEO as witnesses, describing it as a “witch-hunt.” She claims these actions obstruct the legal process by intimidating those involved. The allegations of harassment, according to Mataiciwa, infringe upon the constitutional rights of the witnesses, with Malimali potentially breaching specific sections of the Crimes Act 2009 related to abuse of office and obstruction of justice.
Mataiciwa has urged the Fiji Police Force to conduct an investigation and consider charges against the FICAC Commissioner for these alleged actions.
In response to this growing situation, FijiLive has reached out to FICAC for an official comment, highlighting the importance of transparency in these proceedings.
Commentary: This unfolding scenario emphasizes the necessity of accountable practices within governmental structures, especially pertaining to electoral processes. The allegations, if proven true, could underline systemic issues that need addressing to uphold the integrity of democratic institutions.
Summary: Supervisor of Elections Ana Mataiciwa has accused former Electoral Commission Chair Barbara Malimali of abuse of office and harassment, leading to a formal complaint. Mataiciwa claims that Malimali has intimidated witnesses and misused official information in an attempt to obstruct justice regarding allegations against her. She has called for police investigation into Malimali’s actions, emphasizing the need for integrity in electoral governance.
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