The recent arrest of Barbara Malimali, the newly appointed Commissioner of the Fiji Independent Commission Against Corruption (FICAC), by her own staff has raised concerns within the Government regarding the implications for her appointment. In a press conference held yesterday, Attorney-General Graham Leung described the event as “extraordinary,” noting that it is unprecedented for a new leader to be detained by their own team on the first day of their tenure.
Leung expressed his surprise upon receiving news of the arrest while in Parliament and questioned the legality of the circumstances surrounding it. He highlighted that Malimali was selected from among 20 applicants for the FICAC position through a transparent merit-based selection process, with the Judicial Services Commission (JSC) recommending her appointment to the President.
Leung emphasized the importance of adhering to legal processes in public official appointments. He reiterated that individuals dissatisfied with an appointment can pursue legal challenges or appeals as permitted by law. He also mentioned that FICAC had recently issued a search warrant targeting the Electoral Commission for information related to Malimali, which raises concerns about the motives behind her arrest, especially since the arresting individual had also applied for the same position.
Fortunately, the situation was resolved yesterday with Malimali’s release.