Prime Minister Sitiveni Rabuka has stated that Barbara Malimali, the newly appointed Commissioner for the Fiji Independent Commission Against Corruption, does not need to be suspended while investigations are underway. In a media briefing, Rabuka affirmed, “No, she does not need to… It’s got nothing to do with her appointment.” He noted that the matter is currently handled by the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) and is unrelated to her role as Commissioner.
Rabuka mentioned that if Malimali is found to have done something wrong, she will need to address it publicly. The Office of the DPP has forwarded Malimali’s investigation file to the Director of the Criminal Investigations Department (CID) for further examination. This decision followed discussions between Acting DPP Nancy Tikoisuva and Deputy DPP John Rabuku, who is overseeing the investigation.
It was determined that the investigation was incomplete, prompting the transfer of the file to the CID with instructions to continue the inquiry. The Office of the DPP indicated that a further update will be provided once the investigation is reviewed and the file is returned for additional action.
In terms of context, Malimali is under investigation for alleged abuse of office, with FICAC confirming that the complaint relates to her previous role as Chairperson of the Electoral Commission.