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 this development last night.
The complaint pertains to allegations that Ms. Pulewai abused her office by overstepping her authority while serving in an acting capacity. On her first day in the role on September 5, Ms. Malimali was reportedly arrested and detained at FICAC headquarters.
This issue, referred to as the Barbara-Gate saga due to its political implications, has caught the attention of the government, with Prime Minister Sitiveni Rabuka suggesting the possibility of a Board of Inquiry over the weekend. Attempts by *Fiji Sun* to contact Ms. Malimali for comments were unsuccessful, while Ms. Pulewai indicated that she had not been informed about the complaint and had traveled to Australia following her resignation.
Prime Minister Rabuka noted last week that he had not received a formal resignation letter from Ms. Malimali, but later confirmed via his official Facebook that he had received notice of her resignation as Chair of the Electoral Commission. He received this confirmation through an email from the Solicitor-General at 8:17 am on September 14.
In response to the ongoing situation, Deputy Prime Minister Manoa Kamikamica asserted that FICAC had previously operated under political pressure from the last government but denied similar influences on the current coalition government. Mr. Kamikamica recognized issues within FICAC’s operations over the past eight years and supported the Prime Minister’s call for an inquiry to examine the commission’s functioning.
Opposition MPs have also weighed in, with G9 crossbench leader Ioane Naivalurua stating that the inquiry is crucial for maintaining good governance. Opposition leader Inia Seruiratu urged Mr. Rabuka to take action and proceed with the inquiry related to Ms. Malimali’s appointment and alleged interference.
Fiji Law Society president Wylie Clarke emphasized that the decision on how to proceed ultimately lies with the Prime Minister.