Yesterday was marked as one of the most tumultuous days of the year in Fiji, starting with the arrest of the newly-appointed Fiji Independent Commission Against Corruption (FICAC) commissioner, Barbara Malimali, and concluding with the unexpected resignation of acting Deputy Commissioner, Francis Puleiwai.
Malimali’s appointment to FICAC was surrounded by controversy after Puleiwai disclosed to the media that a raid at the Electoral Commission office took place on Tuesday. Malimali previously served as the Electoral Commissioner, and her resignation had not been officially announced when reports of the raid and her new role as the head of FICAC emerged.
The situation escalated further when FICAC confirmed the arrest of their commissioner. Attorney-General Graham Leung held a press conference to address the matter, expressing concern that an individual who had applied for the commissioner position was involved in the arrest. He encouraged the media to “do the math” regarding the implications, though he refrained from drawing specific conclusions.
Leung indicated that FICAC was in need of a reset due to its substantial budget and existing concerns regarding its impartiality. The appointment of the FICAC commissioner is made by the President based on recommendations from the Judicial Services Commission.