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 new FICAC Commissioner Barbara Malimali for the first time. Speaking from Australia, Pulewai expressed her disappointment with the handling of her situation, alleging that the very institution she sought to serve victimized her simply for performing her duties.
“It was truly disheartening to witness that the government body I believed would uphold the rule of law was, in fact, the same entity that sought to blame me for doing my job,” she stated. Pulewai suggested that FICAC was looking for a scapegoat and believed her to be a suitable choice.
Pulewai raised concerns about the quick appointment of Malimali while she was still under investigation. “Why was the appointment rushed when the individual being appointed was still under scrutiny? That’s the fundamental question,” she remarked. She noted that she received confirmation of Malimali’s selection for the commissioner position on August 28 and subsequently reached out to the President on August 30 to highlight the ongoing investigation and caution against confirming the appointment.
On September 3, the Attorney-General contacted her regarding Malimali’s status, and she confirmed that her office’s investigation was nearing completion. Despite this ongoing inquiry, Malimali was officially appointed on September 4 by President Ratu Wiliame Katonivere based on the recommendation of the Judicial Services Commission.
Pulewai stated that she was not notified about a formal introduction of Malimali to staff and questioned the appropriateness of how the appointment process was conducted, stressing that some department managers were uneasy about having someone under investigation as their leader. She expressed that if due diligence had been performed, she would have had no issue with Malimali’s appointment.
Addressing reports of Malimali being detained by FICAC shortly after her appointment, Pulewai clarified that this was misunderstood. Malimali’s situation arose after she declined an invitation for an interview, leading to her being brought in for questioning.
Pulewai defended her investigative authority, insisting that she held equivalent power to Malimali as Acting Deputy Commissioner. She suggested that the Prime Minister was unaware of Malimali’s resignation from the Electoral Commission prior to her new appointment.
Moreover, Pulewai confirmed that charges against Deputy Prime Minister Biman Prasad were prepared and indicated clear violations had been established. She urged that the evidence would speak for itself and dismissed Prasad’s claims about the accusations being unfounded, stating that the matter should be resolved in court.
Responding to questions about the legitimacy of the complainant, Pulewai emphasized that all complaints, irrespective of the complainant’s citizenship or race, would be considered equally, underscoring the importance of public trust in the system.
Lastly, she highlighted the chaotic environment at FICAC and called for transparency. She believed that many issues could have been avoided if the appointment of Malimali had been delayed until the investigation was concluded. Additionally, she shared concerns about receiving threats following her departure, including damaging her vehicle before traveling to Australia, highlighting the need for safety and security in the current climate.