Prime Minister Sitiveni Rabuka has suggested the possibility of establishing an independent board of inquiry to examine the concerns surrounding the appointment of Barbara Malimali as the Commissioner of the Fiji Independent Commission Against Corruption (FICAC). However, any decision will rely on advice from his advisors, both inside and outside the cabinet.
Malimali’s appointment has faced significant backlash, particularly since she was under investigation by FICAC as the chairperson of the Electoral Commission at the time of her selection. Legal and political analysts have raised alarms about the timing of her appointment, coinciding with the Deputy Prime Minister Biman Prasad’s impending charges by the anti-corruption agency.
Francis Pulewai, the former Acting Deputy Commissioner of FICAC, revealed that a formal notice regarding charges against Prasad had been sent to both the Prime Minister and Minister for Justice Siromi Turaga just a day before Malimali’s appointment. Prasad is accused of failing to disclose all of his assets, income, and liabilities prior to the last election. Since Malimali’s appointment, these charges have been temporarily suspended.
Rabuka previously indicated that any cabinet minister facing charges would step back, similar to former Minister for Fisheries, Kalaveti Ravu. Former Prime Minister Mahendra Chaudhry has urged Rabuka to take action to safeguard the integrity and independence of the FICAC.
As chair of the Constitutional Offices Commission, Rabuka is still awaiting Malimali’s resignation letter from the Electoral Commission, ten days post her FICAC appointment. When queried about initiating an independent inquiry to tackle allegations of undermining FICAC’s independence, Rabuka stated, “If it is allowed for, then we will go ahead,” adding he would seek advice or consult externally if necessary.
Additionally, a petition advocating for Malimali’s removal is gaining traction as the debate over her appointment intensifies.