Former Prime Minister and Leader of the Fiji Labour Party, Mahendra Chaudhry, has alleged that certain Ministers currently under investigation by FICAC for submitting false declarations to the Registrar of Political Parties and for engaging in corrupt activities are attempting to influence the appointment of the new FICAC Commissioner.
Chaudhry contended that these Ministers are seeking to prevent prosecution by ensuring that a Commissioner of their choosing is appointed, thereby removing the investigations from Acting Assistant Commissioner Francis Puleiwai’s oversight.
Additionally, he mentioned previous reports indicating that Barbara Malimali, the Chairperson of the Electoral Commission, had interfered with the Registrar’s decision to refer the Ministers to FICAC.
“A report concerning Malimali was submitted to FICAC and has been acknowledged; we believe it is currently under investigation,” Chaudhry stated.
He expressed concerns about the pressures FICAC under Puleiwai may be facing regarding its investigations into the Ministers. Chaudhry further noted that the Fiji Labour Party has received information suggesting Malimali might have applied for the position of FICAC Commissioner, raising questions about her potential suitability for the role.