Francis Puleiwai, the former acting deputy commissioner of the Fiji Independent Commission Against Corruption (FICAC), has disclosed that she left Fiji for Australia due to safety concerns, following a series of threats directed at her. In an interview with Australian news outlet ABC News, Puleiwai stated that the threats began after her resignation from FICAC on September 5.
“I departed Fiji on the morning of September 7,” she explained. “The decision came about after I resigned in the evening from my position with the Judicial Services Commission, and the threats I received that afternoon were alarming, especially since I have lived in Fiji my whole life.”
Initially, Puleiwai did not take the threats seriously, given her extensive knowledge of sensitive investigations and prosecutions at FICAC. However, her concern grew as she worried about the safety of her family, especially her children. She reported that her home had been broken into, heightening her fears.
Puleiwai and her husband decided that she should leave for Australia first, as she had a valid visa for three years. She shared that as they prepared to leave in the middle of the night on September 6, they discovered a punctured tire on their vehicle, which was later found to have been slashed.
Additionally, she mentioned that she received indirect threats discouraging her from making comments about the appointment of FICAC commissioner Barbara Malimali. While Puleiwai did not initially perceive these threats as serious, her husband, with his military background, advised caution regarding her safety.
Attorney-General Graham Leung stated that he was unaware of any threats directed toward Puleiwai following her resignation.