Yesterday was marked by significant turmoil as the newly-appointed commissioner of the Fiji Independent Commission Against Corruption (FICAC), Barbara Malimali, was arrested, while the acting Deputy Commissioner, Francis Puleiwai, unexpectedly resigned later in the day.
The controversy began with the announcement of Ms. Malimali’s appointment, following a police raid at the Electoral Commission office, which Ms. Puleiwai confirmed to the media had taken place on Tuesday. At the time of the raid, Ms. Malimali, who previously held the position of Electoral Commissioner, had not officially resigned, raising concerns about the timing and implications of her new role as head of FICAC.
The situation escalated as FICAC confirmed the arrest of its new commissioner. Attorney-General Graham Leung addressed the media, expressing concern that an individual involved in the hiring process for the commissioner role might have played a part in the arrest. He urged the media to consider the facts themselves, refraining from drawing conclusions. Nevertheless, he stated that FICAC needed to be reassessed due to issues surrounding its substantial budget and questions about its neutrality.
The appointment of the FICAC commissioner is made by the President based on the recommendations from the Judicial Services Commission.