Francis Pulewai, the former Acting Deputy Commissioner of the Fiji Independent Commission Against Corruption (FICAC), has publicly addressed her departure and the contentious appointment of FICAC Commissioner Barbara Malimali for the first time. Speaking from Australia, Pulewai conveyed her disappointment about how her situation was managed, characterizing it as an attempt by the agency she aimed to support to “victimize” her for simply performing her duties.
Pulewai expressed her frustration, stating, “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. It looked like they were looking for a way out, and they thought it was me—they thought I’m the one they can literally put the blame on.”
Pulewai raised concerns regarding the expedited nature of Malimali’s appointment while she was still under investigation. She emphasized, “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 learned of Malimali’s successful application for the FICAC Commissioner position on August 28 and wrote to the President on August 30, noting the ongoing investigation and advising caution in confirming the appointment.
Despite the investigation, Malimali was appointed by President Ratu Wiliame Katonivere on September 4, following a recommendation from the Judicial Services Commission. Since then, comments have been issued by Attorney-General Graham Leung, Minister for Justice Siromi Turaga, and the Judicial Services Commission.
Pulewai also mentioned that she had not been informed about a formal introduction of Malimali to the department heads and staff. 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.” Furthermore, she noted that some managers expressed concerns regarding having Malimali, who was under investigation, appointed as their superior.
Regarding recent reports that Malimali was detained by FICAC the morning after her appointment, Pulewai clarified that this was a misunderstanding. She explained that her team had been instructed to bring in Deputy Prime Minister Biman Prasad for questioning, and Malimali’s detainment occurred after she declined an invitation for an interview.
Pulewai defended her actions as Acting Deputy Commissioner, asserting that she possessed equal authority to investigate and prosecute cases as Malimali. She noted that even the Prime Minister was unaware of Malimali’s resignation from the Electoral Commission prior to her appointment.
Pulewai confirmed that charges against Mr. Prasad had been prepared, citing clear breaches. She asserted that the evidence is substantial and documented, countering Prasad’s assertion that the accusations were unfounded and stating that the matter should be dealt with in court.
Addressing concerns about the complainant’s citizenship status, Pulewai reiterated that complaints can be filed regardless of an individual’s race or nationality, as long as they are supported by evidence.
Describing the current environment at FICAC as chaotic, Pulewai called for transparency and accountability, suggesting that all issues could have been avoided if the appointment had been paused until the investigation concluded. She urged the Prime Minister to allow an inquiry board to explore any discrepancies in the appointment process, revealing that she had received threats since her departure. She recounted an incident where their vehicle’s tires were slashed as they were leaving for Australia, expressing concern about the lack of response from the police.