Former Acting Deputy Commissioner of the Fiji Independent Commission Against Corruption (FICAC), Francis Pulewai, has publicly addressed her resignation and the controversial appointment of new FICAC Commissioner Barbara Malimali for the first time. Speaking from Australia, Ms. Pulewai expressed her profound disappointment with how her departure was managed, alleging that the institution she aimed to serve was attempting to “victimize” her for performing her duties.
“It was truly disappointing to witness the very government body I expected to uphold the rule of law turn against me for simply fulfilling my responsibilities,” stated Ms. Pulewai. She suggested that the authorities were searching for a scapegoat and decided to place the blame on her.
Ms. Pulewai raised concerns regarding the urgency surrounding Ms. Malimali’s appointment while she remained under investigation. “The critical question is why the appointment was expedited when the appointee was still under investigation,” she remarked.
On August 28, Ms. Pulewai learned that Ms. Malimali had been selected as FICAC Commissioner. Subsequently, she contacted the President on August 30 to raise concerns about the pending investigation involving Ms. Malimali, urging caution in finalizing her appointment. She recounts a conversation with the Attorney-General on September 3, during which she confirmed that an investigation was ongoing but approaching a conclusion.
Despite the investigation’s status, Ms. Malimali was appointed as Commissioner on September 4 by President Ratu Wiliame Katonivere, based on the recommendation from the Judicial Services Commission. Since the controversy surrounding her appointment, various officials, including the Attorney-General and the Minister for Justice, have commented on the situation.
Ms. Pulewai also expressed her frustration at not being informed when the Chief Registrar called a meeting to formally introduce Ms. Malimali as the new Commissioner. She noted that some managers were apprehensive about working under someone who was still being investigated.
On the issue of Ms. Malimali’s alleged detainment following her appointment, Ms. Pulewai clarified that this was a misunderstanding. She stated that her team was attempting to question Deputy Prime Minister Biman Prasad, and Ms. Malimali was only detained after she declined an interview invitation.
Additionally, Ms. Pulewai defended her authoritative role as Acting Deputy Commissioner, indicating that she possessed the same investigation and prosecution powers as Ms. Malimali. She pointed out that the Prime Minister was not informed of Ms. Malimali’s resignation from the Electoral Commission prior to her new appointment.
Regarding charges against Mr. Prasad, which Ms. Pulewai confirmed were already drafted, she emphasized that evidence would demonstrate any wrongdoing, countering Mr. Prasad’s claims that the accusations were unfounded.
Addressing concerns about the citizenship status of the complainant, Ms. Pulewai affirmed that complaints are accepted regardless of an individual’s background, emphasizing the need for all complaints to be treated with seriousness.
Lastly, she described the environment at FICAC as chaotic and called for greater transparency and accountability. She suggested that the appointment should have been paused until the investigation was concluded. Ms. Pulewai disclosed that she had received threats following her departure, mentioning an incident in which the tires of her vehicle were slashed. She reported that there has been no follow-up from the police regarding this matter.