Francis Pulewai, the former Acting Deputy Commissioner of the Fiji Independent Commission Against Corruption (FICAC), has publicly addressed her departure and the contentious appointment of Commissioner Barbara Malimali for the first time. Speaking from Australia, Pulewai expressed her frustration over the handling of her situation, which she characterized as an attempt by the commission to “victimize” her for performing her duties.
“It was deeply disappointing to witness that the very institution I trusted to uphold the rule of law was instead the one seeking to place blame solely on me,” she stated.
Pulewai raised concerns about the rapidity of Malimali’s appointment while she was still under investigation. She questioned why such a crucial appointment was made hastily under these circumstances. On August 28, she learned that Malimali had been chosen for the Commissioner position and promptly contacted the President on August 30 to inform him about the ongoing investigation against Malimali, urging caution in the approval of her appointment.
On September 3, Pulewai confirmed to the Attorney-General that there was still an active investigation in her office and indicated that they were nearing a conclusion. However, despite the unresolved inquiry, Malimali was appointed on September 4 based on a recommendation from the Judicial Services Commission.
Pulewai noted that she was not informed ahead of a formal introductory meeting for the new Commissioner, raising questions about the appropriateness of the process. Some managers within FICAC reportedly expressed concerns about having someone under investigation as their leader. She criticized the lack of due diligence in the appointment process, emphasizing that proper procedures were not followed.
Regarding reports that Malimali had been detained by FICAC the day after her appointment, Pulewai clarified that this was a misunderstanding. She explained that Malimali was invited for questioning but was detained only after refusing the invitation.
Pulewai defended her authority as Acting Deputy Commissioner, stating that she had the same rights as Malimali to conduct investigations and prosecutions. She revealed that charges against Deputy Prime Minister Biman Prasad were already drafted, citing documented evidence of clear breaches.
She rejected Prasad’s claims that the accusations were unfounded and insisted that the legal process should unfold in court. Addressing concerns about the citizenship status of the complainant, Pulewai affirmed that all complaints, regardless of the complainant’s background, would be treated equally as they rely on public trust.
Pulewai described the current environment at FICAC as chaotic and called for greater transparency and accountability, expressing that many issues could have been avoided had the appointment been postponed until the investigation was completed. She reported receiving threats since her departure and recounted an incident where her vehicle’s tires were slashed prior to leaving for Australia, indicating potential safety concerns.