Yesterday was a tumultuous day in Fiji, marked by the arrest of Barbara Malimali, the newly appointed commissioner of the Fiji Independent Commission Against Corruption (FICAC), and the unexpected resignation of acting Deputy Commissioner Francis Puleiwai.
Ms. Malimali’s appointment was overshadowed by controversy following a media announcement from Ms. Puleiwai, who disclosed that a raid was conducted at the Electoral Commission office on Tuesday. At the time, Malimali held the position of Electoral Commissioner, and there was no official statement regarding her resignation prior to the announcement of the raid and her upcoming role at FICAC.
The situation intensified as FICAC confirmed the arrest of its own commissioner. Attorney-General Graham Leung held a press conference where he expressed his concern over the circumstances surrounding her arrest, questioning how someone who sought the commissioner position could have been involved in leading the arrest. He urged the media to “do the math” themselves without drawing explicit conclusions.
Leung also suggested that FICAC required a reset due to its significant budget and issues concerning its perceived neutrality. The appointment of the FICAC commissioner is made by the President based on the recommendations of the Judicial Services Commission.