A petition calling for the removal of Barbara Malimali as the Commissioner of the Fiji Independent Commission Against Corruption (FICAC) has attracted more than 100 signatures. The petition, started by Alexandra Forwood on change.org, aims to persuade Prime Minister Sitiveni Rabuka to discuss Ms. Malimali’s termination with President Ratu Wiliame Katonivere.
Forwood asserts that Ms. Malimali’s appointment was made under questionable circumstances, noting that she was under investigation by FICAC prior to her becoming its chief. Additionally, Forwood has called for Ms. Malimali to face charges for alleged abuse of office.
In response, Ms. Malimali stated that everyone is free to express their opinions about her appointment, emphasizing the country’s commitment to free speech. The push for change in FICAC leadership has garnered support from notable political figures, including Savenaca Narube and former Prime Minister Mahendra Chaudhry, both of whom have criticized Ms. Malimali’s appointment and requested that Mr. Rabuka address the perceived abuses of power within FICAC.
At the center of this controversy is a leaked FICAC letter that detailed charges against Finance Minister Biman Prasad. Mr. Prasad was expected to face charges two weeks ago for allegedly not declaring all his assets, income, and liabilities prior to the recent election, which coincided with Ms. Malimali’s appointment as FICAC Commissioner.
Francis Puleiwai, the Acting Deputy Commissioner of FICAC, who is currently in Australia, has described the delay in filing charges as “sad.”
Forwood, the petition’s initiator, is a former resident of Fiji now living in Australia. Her adoptive father spent over 40 years in Fiji, where he married an iTaukei woman. She has been an outspoken advocate on various political issues concerning Fiji.