Former Acting Deputy Commissioner of the Fiji Independent Commission Against Corruption (FICAC), Francis Pulewai, has publicly addressed her departure and the contentious appointment of new FICAC Commissioner Barbara Malimali. Speaking from Australia, Ms. Pulewai expressed her distress over how her situation was handled, characterizing it as an effort by the agency she aimed to serve to “victimize” her for fulfilling her responsibilities.
“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. Ms. Pulewai implied that the organization seemed to be seeking a scapegoat in her.
She raised concerns over the urgency of Ms. Malimali’s appointment while an investigation was still underway. On August 28, she learned that Ms. Malimali had been selected for the Commissioner position. Subsequently, on August 30, she alerted the President about the ongoing investigation into Ms. Malimali, urging caution regarding the confirmation of her appointment.
On September 3, Ms. Pulewai received a call from the Attorney-General discussing Ms. Malimali’s situation and confirming an active investigation in her office. On September 4, despite the pending inquiry, Ms. Malimali was appointed by President Ratu Wiliame Katonivere, following a recommendation from the Judicial Services Commission.
Regarding the appointment procedure, Ms. Pulewai noted that she was not informed when the Chief Registrar requested a gathering of all Heads of Departments and staff to introduce the new Commissioner. She indicated that some managers were apprehensive about having a person under investigation as their leader. She asserted that had due diligence been followed, she would not have objected to Ms. Malimali’s appointment if the investigation had cleared her.
In response to rumors that Ms. Malimali had been detained by FICAC the morning after her appointment, Ms. Pulewai clarified that this was a misunderstanding. She explained that her team had planned to question Deputy Prime Minister Biman Prasad the following day, and Ms. Malimali’s detention only occurred when she refused to attend an interview.
Ms. Pulewai defended her actions during the investigation, stating that as Acting Deputy Commissioner, she held the authority to investigate and prosecute cases. She pointed out that the Prime Minister was unaware of Ms. Malimali’s resignation from the Electoral Commission before her appointment, implying a lack of notification to key figures.
Additionally, Ms. Pulewai confirmed that charges against Mr. Prasad had already been prepared, noting significant breaches had been identified. She rejected his claims that the accusations were unfounded, emphasizing the importance of allowing the legal process to run its course.
Regarding concerns about the complainant’s citizenship, Ms. Pulewai clarified that complaints could be filed by anyone, regardless of race or nationality, as long as they are supported by evidence. She highlighted the importance of treating all complaints seriously to maintain public trust in the system.
Ms. Pulewai described the current state of FICAC as chaotic, calling for transparency and accountability. She insisted that the appointment process should have been paused until the investigation concluded to prevent the existing turmoil. Moreover, she stated that since her departure, she has faced both direct and indirect threats, including an incident where her vehicle’s tires were slashed before leaving for Australia, with no updates from the police.