The Supervisor of Elections, Ana Mataiciwa, has lodged a formal complaint against former Electoral Commission Chairperson Barbara Malimali, accusing her of misuse of authority, harassment, and intimidation. In a letter addressed to FijiLive, Mataiciwa details that the current Commissioner for the Fiji Independent Commission Against Corruption (FICAC) has allegedly targeted her and other members of the Fijian Elections Office, who are witnesses in an ongoing case concerning Malimali’s conduct during her tenure as Chairperson.
Mataiciwa claims that Malimali has abused her position by unlawfully extracting sensitive information from the Electoral Commission, which she purportedly used as a tool to intimidate the Elections Office and Mataiciwa herself. The complaint mentions a FICAC raid on the Electoral Commission Office in September, during which the Commission sought legal assistance from the Elections Office.
Mataiciwa accused Malimali of conducting a “witch-hunt” aimed at undermining the Fijian Elections Office’s credibility as witnesses against her in the ongoing abuse of office case. She expressed that Malimali’s actions constitute harassment and intimidation, violating the constitutionally protected rights of the witnesses.
Furthermore, Mataiciwa emphasized that these actions represent not only an abuse of office but also an attempt to obstruct justice, citing breaches of the Crimes Act of 2009. She has urged the Fiji Police Force to investigate these allegations and take appropriate action against the FICAC Commissioner.
FijiLive has reached out to FICAC for their response to these serious allegations.
This situation underscores the importance of accountability in public offices, as allegations of this nature highlight potential corruption and misuse of power. It serves as a reminder of the need for transparency and integrity within governmental institutions, ultimately aiming to foster public trust in the electoral process.
In light of these developments, there remains hope that these allegations will be investigated thoroughly, potentially leading to reforms that could strengthen the integrity of electoral processes in Fiji.
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