The Commissioner of the Fiji Independent Commission Against Corruption (FICAC), Barbara Malimali, has filed a police complaint against former acting deputy commissioner Francis Pulewai. Acting Police Commissioner Juki Fong Chew confirmed the report last night.
The complaint centers around allegations of abuse of power, suggesting that Pulewai overstepped her authority while serving as acting commissioner. Malimali was reportedly arrested and detained at the FICAC headquarters on her first day of work, September 5, giving rise to a political controversy referred to as the “Barbara-Gate” saga. The issue has escalated to involve government officials, with Prime Minister Sitiveni Rabuka recently suggesting the possibility of a Board of Inquiry.
Fiji Sun attempted to contact Malimali for a statement but received no response before publication. Pulewai indicated that she had not been informed of the complaint and has since traveled to Australia following her resignation.
Last week, Rabuka mentioned that he had not yet received a formal resignation letter from Malimali. However, he later confirmed on his official Facebook page that Malimali resigned from her position as Chair of the Electoral Commission, noting that he received the confirmation via email from the Solicitor-General.
In response to the situation, Deputy Prime Minister Manoa Kamikamica stated that FICAC operated under political influence during the previous administration, but he refuted claims that the same issue would apply under the current Coalition Government. He expressed support for the Prime Minister’s call for an inquiry to investigate the commission’s past operations.
Opposition leader Inia Seruiratu urged Rabuka to follow through on his commitment to an inquiry regarding Malimali’s appointment and any signs of interference. The President of the Fiji Law Society, Wylie Clarke, indicated that the decision ultimately rests with the Prime Minister.