Francis Pulewai, the former Acting Deputy Commissioner of the Fiji Independent Commission Against Corruption (FICAC), has publicly commented on her departure and the contentious appointment of FICAC Commissioner Barbara Malimali. Speaking from Australia, Pulewai expressed her disappointment regarding her situation, claiming that the very institution she aimed to serve attempted to “victimize” her for performing her duties.
Pulewai conveyed her frustration, stating, “It was disappointing to see that the very arm of Government I was hoping would uphold the rule of law were the same people who aimed to victimise me for just doing my job.” She suggested that there seemed to be an effort to place blame on her during the controversies.
She raised concerns about the rapidity of Malimali’s appointment while still under investigation, highlighting that it raised important questions. On August 28, she learned that Malimali had been selected for the FICAC Commissioner role, and she subsequently alerted the President about the investigation on August 30. Despite knowing about the inquiry, Malimali was appointed to her position on September 4 by President Ratu Wiliame Katonivere.
Pulewai noted that she was not informed about a meeting to introduce Malimali as the new Commissioner and expressed confusion over the process. She indicated that some staff members were uncomfortable with Malimali taking up the head role while still being investigated. “If the process had been allowed to go through and Ms Malimali was in the clear, I would have had no issue with her appointment,” she stated.
Moreover, Pulewai clarified misconceptions regarding Malimali’s detainment, explaining that it followed her refusal to an interview invitation and was not an arrest. She also stated her surprise that the Director of Public Prosecutions assessed the case despite a conflict of interest since Malimali had not yet been interviewed.
Pulewai defended her authority as Acting Deputy Commissioner, asserting that she had the same power as Malimali to undertake investigations and prosecutions. Regarding ongoing charges against Deputy Prime Minister Biman Prasad, she confirmed that charges were being prepared, with evidence supporting alleged breaches of the Political Parties Act.
She emphasized the importance of transparency and accountability, arguing that the hasty appointment of Malimali should have been paused to complete the investigation. Pulewai claimed to have received threats since her departure, sharing an incident of her vehicle’s tires being slashed as she left for Australia, and noted a lack of response from the police regarding the matter.