Former Acting Deputy Commissioner of the Fiji Independent Commission Against Corruption (FICAC), Francis Pulewai, has publicly shared her thoughts regarding her recent exit and the contentious appointment of FICAC Commissioner Barbara Malimali. Speaking from Australia, Ms. Pulewai expressed profound disappointment over how her situation was managed, viewing it as an attempt to “victimize” her for fulfilling her professional duties.
“It was very disappointing to realize that the very branch of government I expected to uphold the rule of law was the same one that victimized me for simply doing my job,” Ms. Pulewai stated. She implied that the government seemed eager to find a scapegoat and believed she was the convenient choice for blame.
Concerns about the rushed nature of Ms. Malimali’s appointment were raised, particularly since she was still under investigation at the time. “The key question to consider is why the appointment was expedited when the appointee was still being investigated. That is the fundamental question,” she remarked. On August 28, Ms. Pulewai learned that Ms. Malimali had been selected for the role of FICAC Commissioner.
Following this news, on August 30, she contacted the President to emphasize the ongoing investigation and suggested caution before finalizing Ms. Malimali’s appointments. On September 3, the Attorney-General reached out regarding the situation, and Ms. Pulewai confirmed that the investigation was active, nearing its conclusion that week, with potential charges pending.
Despite the investigation, Ms. Malimali was appointed on September 4 by President Ratu Wiliame Katonivere based on a recommendation from the Judicial Services Commission. Since the emergence of the controversy, statements have been issued by the Attorney-General, Minister for Justice, and the Judicial Services Commission.
Ms. Pulewai noted that she was not informed when the Chief Registrar directed the Human Resources Manager to arrange a formal introduction of Ms. Malimali to departmental heads and staff. “I questioned why I wasn’t notified. The manner in which it was executed felt inappropriate,” she recounted. Concerns from some managers about having Ms. Malimali, who was under investigation, as their leader also came to light. She stated, “Had the investigation concluded with Ms. Malimali cleared, I would not have opposed her appointment. My issue is the lack of due diligence from those involved in her appointment regarding the ongoing investigation.”
Ms. Pulewai addressed rumors regarding Ms. Malimali’s detention following her appointment, clarifying that this misunderstanding arose because Ms. Malimali was not detained until after she declined an interview invitation. “The misconception is that we arrested her. She was invited for questioning, and when she refused, the team proceeded with her detention,” Ms. Pulewai explained. She expressed surprise that the Director of Public Prosecutions had assessed the case, citing a conflict of interest, acknowledging that the file was incomplete since Ms. Malimali had not yet been interviewed.
Defending her actions, Ms. Pulewai asserted that as Acting Deputy Commissioner, she possessed the same authority as Ms. Malimali to pursue investigations and prosecutions. She mentioned that the Prime Minister was unaware of Ms. Malimali’s resignation from the Electoral Commission prior to her appointment because he had not been notified.
Regarding charges against Deputy Prime Minister Biman Prasad, Ms. Pulewai confirmed that the charges had been drafted with identifiable breaches present. “The evidence will reveal everything. The advantage of fraud cases is that they are thoroughly documented. Any false information recorded constitutes a violation of the Political Parties Act,” she stated. She dismissed Mr. Prasad’s claims that the accusations were unfounded and urged the judicial process to take its course.
Ms. Pulewai addressed questions about the citizenship status of the complainant, stating that complaints should be filed regardless of race or citizenship. “The filed complaint was substantiated with documentation. We treat all complaints seriously because public trust in the reporting system is crucial. Dismissing complaints is regrettable,” she remarked.
In her final comments, Ms. Pulewai characterized the internal atmosphere at FICAC as chaotic and called for greater transparency and accountability. “This whole situation could have been avoided if the appointment had been postponed to allow the investigation to conclude. It has turned into a mess,” she said, urging that an inquiry be conducted into potential irregularities surrounding the appointment process. She also revealed that since her departure, she has faced threats, detailing an incident where her vehicle’s tires were slashed before leaving for Australia, with no response from the police thus far.