Former Acting Deputy Commissioner of the Fiji Independent Commission Against Corruption (FICAC), Francis Pulewai, has publicly addressed her departure and the recent contentious appointment of FICAC Commissioner Barbara Malimali for the first time. Speaking from Australia, Pulewai conveyed her profound disappointment regarding the handling of her situation, asserting that the very institution she aimed to serve attempted to “victimize” her for performing her duties.
Pulewai stated, “It was really disappointing to me to see that the very arm of Government I was hoping would uphold the rule of law and do the right thing were the very people who, I would say, victimized me for just doing my job.” She expressed concern that the institution appeared to be searching for a scapegoat, believing that she was the one they could blame.
She raised questions about the swift nature of Malimali’s appointment while still under investigation, stating, “The question that needs to be asked is, why was the appointment rushed when the person appointed was still being investigated? That’s the bottom-line question.” On August 28, she was informed that Malimali had been selected for the FICAC Commissioner position. On August 30, Pulewai reached out to the President, emphasizing the ongoing investigation into Malimali and advising caution regarding her appointment.
On September 3, she received a call from the Attorney-General inquiring about the investigation in her office, which she confirmed was ongoing and nearing conclusion. Despite this, Malimali was appointed on September 4 by President Ratu Wiliame Katonivere, following a recommendation from the Judicial Services Commission.
Pulewai expressed her concern over the lack of communication during the appointment process, noting that she was not informed about the introduction of the new Commissioner to the staff. Some managers shared reservations about having Malimali, who was under investigation, as their leader. Pulewai insisted that she would have had no issue with the appointment if due diligence had been performed regarding the investigation.
In response to rumors about Malimali’s detention following her appointment, Pulewai clarified that this misinterpretation occurred because Malimali declined an invitation for an interview, leading to her detention after refusal to cooperate.
Pulewai defended her authority to investigate and prosecute as Acting Deputy Commissioner and revealed that charges against Deputy Prime Minister Biman Prasad were already drafted, pointing out clear breaches of the law. She rejected Prasad’s assertion that the allegations were “baseless,” asserting that the legal process should determine the validity of the claims.
Pulewai addressed concerns over the complainant’s citizenship status, stating that complaints backed by evidence are treated equally regardless of the individual’s nationality. She stressed the importance of maintaining public trust in the complaint system.
Describing the current atmosphere at FICAC as chaotic, Pulewai called for transparency and accountability. She made a plea for the Prime Minister to allow an inquiry into the appointment process to uncover any irregularities, additionally revealing that she has faced threats since her departure. She recounted an incident where her vehicle’s tire was slashed just before leaving for Australia, mentioning that she has not received any updates from the police regarding the matter.