Prime Minister Sitiveni Rabuka has expressed no objections to Barbara Malimali continuing her role as head of FICAC while the Government works on establishing a Commission of Inquiry to investigate allegations made by former Deputy Commissioner Francis Puleiwai.
Rabuka stated that Malimali is free to carry on with her responsibilities but may choose to step aside if she believes her involvement could interfere with the investigation. “She is a senior lawyer and should know what is in the best interest of everyone,” he remarked.
The Prime Minister emphasized that an independent commission would be more capable of addressing the concerns raised by Puleiwai, particularly regarding alleged ministerial interference in FICAC investigations. “If such an inquiry finds evidence of undue interference, we will have to follow the due processes recommended by the Commission of Inquiry,” he noted.
Regarding claims that Puleiwai faced threats, Rabuka condemned any such actions if they indeed occurred, clarifying that he had not received any reports about such threats either from Puleiwai or the Fiji Police.