Former Acting Deputy Commissioner of the Fiji Independent Commission Against Corruption (FICAC), Francis Pulewai, has publicly addressed her exit from the organization and the contentious appointment of new FICAC Commissioner Barbara Malimali.
In her first comments from Australia, Pulewai expressed her profound disappointment regarding the way her situation was managed, alleging that the very institution she aimed to serve had sought to “victimize” her simply for fulfilling her duties. “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 stated.
Pulewai raised serious concerns about the speed of Malimali’s appointment while she was still under investigation. “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,” she emphasized. On August 28, she learned that Malimali was the chosen candidate for the FICAC Commissioner position and subsequently warned the President on August 30 about the pending investigation against Malimali, urging caution in progressing her appointment.
Pulewai confirmed that on September 3, she informed the Attorney-General of the ongoing investigation in her office, clarifying its proximity to conclusion. Despite these ongoing inquiries, Malimali was formally appointed by President Ratu Wiliame Katonivere on September 4 based on the recommendation of the Judicial Services Commission.
In the aftermath of the appointment, Pulewai expressed concern over the process, noting she was not notified when a formal introduction of the new Commissioner took place. She stated, “I thought, why didn’t they call me to inform me about this? It was done in a manner that was just not right.” She also highlighted that some managers had voiced their apprehensions about having Malimali as their superior while under investigation.
To clarify a misunderstanding regarding Malimali’s detainment, Pulewai explained that her team had sought to question Deputy Prime Minister Biman Prasad, and Malimali’s detention only followed her refusal to participate in an interview.
Pulewai defended her authority during her tenure, stating that she had the same rights as Malimali in conducting investigations and prosecutions. She noted that the Prime Minister was unaware of Malimali’s resignation from the Electoral Commission prior to her new appointment.
As for the charges against Prasad, Pulewai confirmed that allegations had already been drafted, linking documented evidence to violations of the Political Parties Act, dismissing Prasad’s claims of baseless accusations.
Addressing the complainant’s citizenship concerns, Pulewai asserted that anyone could file a complaint, regardless of their status. She emphasized the importance of treating all complaints equitably to maintain public trust in the system.
Describing the environment within FICAC as chaotic, Pulewai called for transparency and accountability, suggesting that the appointment process should have been paused until the investigation concluded. She also expressed concerns for her safety, mentioning threats she had allegedly received since her departure, including incidents of vandalism related to her vehicle.