The Commissioner of the Fiji Independent Commission Against Corruption (FICAC), Barbara Malimali, has pledged to review all investigations involving Cabinet Ministers, including her own case, and urged the public to have faith in the investigative process.
On Tuesday, Ms. Malimali filed a police complaint against former acting deputy FICAC Commissioner Francis Pulewai and emphasized her commitment to thorough investigations regardless of the circumstances.
She confirmed that a stop order had been issued for Ms. Pulewai, who had already departed before receiving the order following her resignation.
When approached outside the court on Tuesday, Ms. Malimali, still acclimating to her new role, noted that she has only been in position since September 5 and asked for patience as the investigations progress.
As of May, the Fijian Elections Office referred eight senior Cabinet Ministers to FICAC over allegations of electoral violations. The ministers involved are:
– Charan Jeath Singh, Minister for Sugar and Multi-Ethnic Affairs
– Biman Prasad, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Finance
– Lynda Tabuya, Minister for Women, Children and Social Protection
– Manoa Kamikamica, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Communication and Trade
– Siromi Turaga, Minister for Justice
– Aseri Radrodro, Minister for Education
– Ifereimi Vasu, Minister for iTaukei Affairs
Additionally, the FEO referred President Ratu Wiliame Katonivere on February 15, along with Opposition MPs Faiyaz Koya and Semi Koroilavesau.
Former Prime Minister Mahendra Chaudhry claimed that both President Ratu Wiliame Katonivere and Prime Minister Sitiveni Rabuka knew about the ongoing investigation into Ms. Malimali prior to her appointment.
He stated that evidence showed FICAC communicated with the President and Prime Minister on August 30 regarding the investigation into Ms. Malimali for alleged abuse of office.
Chaudhry indicated that the President’s office acknowledged the correspondence by seeking legal advice on September 3. He criticized efforts to distract from the investigation, urging accountability and transparency rather than obscuring the issue.
Savena Narube, leader of the Unity Fiji party and former Governor of the Reserve Bank of Fiji, expressed concerns about the integrity of the process rather than targeting Ms. Malimali specifically. He recommended that the Judicial Services Commission suspend her appointment until the inquiry concludes, asserting that inaction by the government would only perpetuate public skepticism regarding FICAC’s transparency and effectiveness in combating corruption in Fiji.