Francis Pulewai, the former Acting Deputy Commissioner of the Fiji Independent Commission Against Corruption (FICAC), has publicly addressed her exit and the contentious appointment of FICAC Commissioner Barbara Malimali for the first time. From Australia, Pulewai expressed her disappointment regarding the handling of her situation, claiming it was an effort by the institution to “victimize” her for performing her duties.
“It was truly disheartening to see that the very arm of Government I expected to uphold the rule of law was, in fact, the one that sought to victimize me for simply doing my job,” Pulewai stated. She felt that FICAC officials were looking to assign blame to her.
Pulewai questioned the rapidity of Malimali’s appointment while she was still under investigation. “Why was the appointment rushed when the individual was still being investigated? That is the fundamental question,” she remarked. After learning on August 28 that Malimali had been chosen for the role, Pulewai wrote to the President on August 30, emphasizing the ongoing investigation against Malimali and urging caution in finalizing her appointment.
On September 3, the Attorney-General contacted Pulewai to inquire about the investigation, to which she confirmed its status and indicated it would conclude that week. Still, despite the ongoing inquiry, Malimali was appointed on September 4 by President Ratu Wiliame Katonivere, as recommended by the Judicial Services Commission.
Pulewai reported that she was not notified about a formal introduction of the new Commissioner, which further disturbed her. “I wondered why I wasn’t informed,” she said, noting that some managers expressed concern about having Malimali lead them while she was under investigation.
Responding to claims that Malimali was arrested shortly after her appointment, Pulewai clarified that this was a misunderstanding. She explained that Malimali was not arrested but rather detained after she declined an invitation for questioning following an ongoing investigation linked to Deputy Prime Minister Biman Prasad. Pulewai revealed that she was surprised the Director of Public Prosecutions assessed the case despite a conflict of interest, acknowledging that the file was incomplete due to the lack of an interview with Malimali.
Defending her actions, Pulewai stated that she had the authority to investigate as Acting Deputy Commissioner. She noted that the Prime Minister, who chairs the Constitutional Offices Commission, was not informed of Malimali’s resignation from the Electoral Commission prior to the appointment.
Pulewai confirmed that charges against Prasad had been drafted, with identifiable breaches. “Evidence will prove the case. If there is false information on records, it is a violation of the Political Parties Act,” she asserted, dismissing Prasad’s claim that the accusations were unfounded, and suggested the matter should be resolved in court.
Addressing concerns about the citizenship status of the complainant, Pulewai emphasized that complaints backed by evidence should be treated equally, regardless of race or citizenship.
Pulewai characterized the situation at FICAC as chaotic and called for transparency and accountability in the process. She expressed the belief that the mess could have been avoided had the appointment been paused until the investigation concluded. She also reported receiving threats since her departure, citing an incident where she found the tires of her vehicle slashed before leaving for Australia, and expressed concern that there had been no communication from the police regarding the matter.