Prime Minister Sitiveni Rabuka has indicated the possibility of establishing an independent board of inquiry to examine the controversy regarding the appointment of Barbara Malimali as the Commissioner of the Fiji Independent Commission Against Corruption (FICAC). The decision to move forward with this inquiry will depend on the advice and consultation the Prime Minister receives from both his cabinet advisors and external sources.
Malimali’s appointment has faced significant criticism since she was appointed while under investigation by FICAC in her capacity as chairperson of the Electoral Commission. Analysts and legal experts have raised concerns about the timing of her appointment, which coincides with the period when Deputy Prime Minister Biman Prasad was expected to face charges from the commission.
Francis Pulewai, the former Acting Deputy Commissioner of FICAC, confirmed that the Prime Minister and Minister for Justice Siromi Turaga received notification of charges against Mr. Prasad just a day before Malimali was appointed. The charges relate to allegations that he failed to disclose all his assets, income, and liabilities prior to the last election, but these have been suspended following Malimali’s appointment.
Previously, Rabuka stated that any cabinet minister facing charges would be required to step down to the backbench, similar to former Minister for Fisheries Kalaveti Ravu. Former Prime Minister Mahendra Chaudhry has urged Rabuka to take action to maintain the integrity and independence of FICAC.
As chair of the Constitutional Offices Commission, Rabuka has yet to receive Malimali’s resignation from the Electoral Commission, ten days after she took on her new role. When queried about the potential for an independent board of inquiry in light of the criticism surrounding Malimali’s appointment, Rabuka expressed that if circumstances permit, he would proceed, highlighting the importance of seeking appropriate advice, even from outside the cabinet.
At the same time, a petition for Malimali’s removal is circulating, fueling ongoing concerns about her appointment and its implications.