FICAC Commissioner Barbara Malimali stated that she was unaware of an ongoing investigation against her until investigators conducted a raid at the Electoral Commission’s office on September 3, concerning alleged abuse of office. She also revealed that she was not informed prior to her arrival at work on September 5 that she would face detention and questioning by investigators.
“If they had communicated this to me, I would have cooperated with their investigation,” she commented. “It was unfortunate that events unfolded the way they did on my first day back at work.”
Malimali asserted that the allegations lacked substance, emphasizing that she was acting within her responsibilities as chair of the Electoral Commission. She noted that she had not had any prior communication with former FICAC acting deputy commissioner Francis Puleiwai, who had authorized the raid at the EC office and her subsequent arrest.
“I had not spoken to her before that incident,” she explained. “Therefore, I was genuinely unaware that an investigation was underway.”
Malimali indicated that she would not engage in discussions regarding ongoing investigations involving her.