Francis Pulewai, the former Acting Deputy Commissioner of the Fiji Independent Commission Against Corruption (FICAC), has publicly voiced her grievances regarding her exit from the organization and the recent controversial appointment of FICAC Commissioner Barbara Malimali.
From Australia, Pulewai expressed her profound disappointment with how her departure was managed, claiming that the very institution she aimed to serve attempted to “victimize” her for performing her duties. She 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 further remarked that it seemed they were seeking a scapegoat, suggesting they intended to place the blame on her.
Pulewai raised concerns about the rapid appointment of Malimali, questioning why it was expedited while Malimali remained under investigation. She recalled being informed on August 28 that Malimali was the chosen candidate for the FICAC Commissioner’s position and reached out to the President on August 30, citing the ongoing investigation against Malimali and recommending caution regarding her appointment.
“On September 3, I received a call from the Attorney-General about Malimali’s status,” Pulewai mentioned, confirming an ongoing investigation in her office and indicating it was nearing conclusion.
Despite the investigation, Malimali was appointed on September 4 by President Ratu Wiliame Katonivere, following a recommendation from the Judicial Services Commission. In the wake of this development, the Attorney-General, Minister for Justice, and the Judicial Services Commission have released statements addressing the situation.
Pulewai also highlighted that she was not informed when the Chief Registrar organized a meeting for the formal introduction of the new Commissioner. “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 said, noting that colleagues expressed concerns about having an individual under investigation as their leader.
She asserted that had the proper process been taken and Malimali was cleared of any wrongdoing, she would not have objected to the appointment. Nonetheless, she emphasized that due diligence was not performed regarding the ongoing investigation.
Regarding reports of Malimali being detained by FICAC after her appointment, Pulewai clarified this was incorrect. She explained that her team had summoned Deputy Prime Minister Biman Prasad for questioning, and Malimali was detained only after she declined the invitation for an interview.
Pulewai defended her actions, stating she held the same authority as Malimali to investigate and prosecute. She revealed that Prime Minister was unaware of Malimali’s resignation from the Electoral Commission prior to her appointment.
In connection to Biman Prasad, Pulewai confirmed that charges against him had been drafted and identified clear breaches. She dismissed Prasad’s claim that the allegations were “baseless,” asserting that the court should ultimately determine the validity of the case.
Addressing the identity of the complaint’s filers, Pulewai remarked that anyone, regardless of race or citizenship, could lodge a complaint, provided it was supported by evidence.
Pulewai described the situation at FICAC as disorganized and urged for transparency and accountability. She lamented that the appointment could have been postponed to allow the investigation to conclude, labeling the situation as a “mess.” She urged the Prime Minister to enable a board of inquiry to investigate any irregularities in the appointment process. Additionally, she claimed to have faced threats since her departure, mentioning an incident where her vehicle’s tires were slashed while leaving for Australia.