The Fiji Independent Commission Against Corruption (FICAC) is responsible for lifting and reasoning a Stop Order for former deputy FICAC Commissioner Francis Puleiwai, not the Ministry of Immigration. Immigration Minister Pio Tikoduadau provided this clarification when questioned about Ms. Puleiwai’s situation.
He stated that any updates or reasoning related to a Stop Order do not fall under his office’s jurisdiction. “No, it does not come to me,” Mr. Tikoduadua remarked, emphasizing that it is up to the appropriate agency to impose such orders at the border.
Ms. Puleiwai departed from Fiji for Australia on September 7, just two days after her resignation on September 5. She had previously alleged that the rule of law was not being upheld within FICAC regarding ministerial charges and raised concerns about potential interference from senior judicial officials.
Despite a Stop Order being issued after her resignation, she had already left the country. Mr. Tikoduadua further explained, “That authority is not invested in me, and even if that be lifted, it depends on the authority that put it there in the first place. The court and other institutions have the power to lift it; otherwise, I have no authority in this matter.”