Former Acting Deputy Commissioner of the Fiji Independent Commission Against Corruption (FICAC), Francis Pulewai, has publicly addressed her departure and the controversial appointment of FICAC Commissioner Barbara Malimali for the first time. Speaking from Australia, Pulewai expressed her disappointment regarding the handling of her situation, claiming it was an attempt by the institution she aimed to serve to “victimize” her for simply fulfilling her duties.
“It was incredibly disappointing to witness that the government arm I hoped would uphold the rule of law was instead the one that victimized me for merely doing my job,” said Pulewai. She indicated that it seemed they were looking for someone to blame, and she became their scapegoat.
Concerns have been raised regarding the expedited appointment of Ms. Malimali while she was still facing an investigation. Pulewai questioned the necessity of rushing the appointment given that the individual selected was under scrutiny. On August 28, Pulewai learned that Malimali had been chosen for the Commissioner role and promptly wrote to the President on August 30, bringing attention to the ongoing investigation and urging caution before endorsing her appointment.
On September 3, the Attorney-General reached out to inquire about any ongoing investigations in Pulewai’s office, which she confirmed. Despite the pending investigation, Malimali was appointed on September 4 by President Ratu Wiliame Katonivere, following recommendations from the Judicial Services Commission.
Pulewai expressed frustration that she was not informed about the formal introduction of Malimali as the new Commissioner. She noted that some managers raised concerns about working under someone who was actively being investigated. “If due diligence had been followed and Ms. Malimali was cleared of allegations, I would have no objections to her appointment. However, the lack of communication and investigation is troubling,” she stated.
In response to reports that Malimali had been detained by FICAC shortly after her appointment, Pulewai clarified that there was a misunderstanding. She explained that her team had been instructed to question Deputy Prime Minister Biman Prasad the day after Malimali’s appointment, and the detainment occurred only after Malimali refused an interview invite.
Pulewai defended her actions as Acting Deputy Commissioner, asserting that she held the same authority to investigate and prosecute as Malimali. She also noted that the Prime Minister was unaware of Malimali’s resignation from the Electoral Commission before her appointment as they had not been notified.
Regarding Biman Prasad, Pulewai confirmed that charges against him had already been drafted, citing clear breaches of the law. She assured that evidence supporting these charges was well-documented and suggested that the matter should be resolved in court.
When addressing concerns about the citizenship status of the complainant, Pulewai affirmed that any individual could submit a complaint regardless of their nationality and emphasized the importance of taking all complaints seriously.
Pulewai characterized the current environment at FICAC as chaotic and called for greater transparency and accountability. She expressed her belief that the situation could have been avoided had the appointment been paused until the investigation was completed. She urged the Prime Minister to allow a board of inquiry to investigate any irregularities in the appointment process.
Additionally, she reported experiencing threats since her departure, noting a suspicious incident where the tires on her vehicle were slashed before leaving for Australia, and mentioned that she had not received any communication from the police about the incident.