Former Prime Minister and leader of the Fiji Labour Party, Mahendra Chaudhry, has accused certain Ministers, currently under investigation by the Fiji Independent Commission Against Corruption (FICAC) for allegedly submitting false declarations to the Registrar of Political Parties and engaging in corrupt practices, of interfering with the appointment process for the Commissioner of FICAC.
Chaudhry stated that these Ministers are attempting to avoid prosecution by seeking to replace Acting Assistant Commissioner Francis Puleiwai with a commissioner of their choosing.
He also mentioned previous reports of interference by the Chairperson of the Electoral Commission, Barbara Malimali, regarding the Registrar’s decision to report the Ministers to FICAC.
“A report concerning Malimali was filed and acknowledged by FICAC, and we believe this matter is currently under investigation,” Chaudhry noted.
Furthermore, he expressed concern that FICAC, under Puleiwai, is facing significant pressure regarding its investigations into the Ministers. Chaudhry revealed that the Fiji Labour Party has received information suggesting that Malimali may have applied for the FICAC Commissioner position, raising questions about her suitability for such a role.