Mahendra Chaudhry, former Prime Minister and leader of the Fiji Labour Party, has alleged that certain Ministers currently under investigation by the Fiji Independent Commission Against Corruption (FICAC) are attempting to interfere with the appointment of a new Commissioner for FICAC. He accused these Ministers of trying to evade prosecution related to false declarations made to the Registrar of Political Parties and involvement in corrupt practices.
Chaudhry contended that the Ministers are seeking to influence the process by ensuring that a candidate of their preference is appointed as the substantive Commissioner, thereby removing the ongoing cases from the oversight of Acting Assistant Commissioner Francis Puleiwai.
He also mentioned previous reports suggesting that Barbara Malimali, the Chairperson of the Electoral Commission, had interfered with the Registrar’s decision to notify FICAC about the Ministers’ actions. Chaudhry noted, “A report concerning Malimali was submitted to FICAC and acknowledged, and we believe it is currently under investigation.”
Furthermore, he expressed concerns regarding the pressure on FICAC under Puleiwai’s leadership, especially in light of reports that Malimali may have expressed interest in the FICAC Commissioner position. “If that is the case, we question how she could be a viable candidate,” Chaudhry concluded.