Outgoing Acting Director of Public Prosecutions John Rabuku emphasizes the need for the legal profession to address legal matters with integrity. Reflecting on his departure from the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (ODPP), Mr. Rabuku mentioned the difficulties posed by public statements from the legal community regarding his exit.
“There is a greater responsibility on the legal profession to approach legal issues with honesty, analytical thinking, and intelligence,” said Mr. Rabuku. He stressed the importance of this approach, particularly when such legal issues are publicly discussed and observed by people in Fiji, the Fiji diaspora, and others interested in the country’s affairs.
“Lawyers are significant agents of change in a community. Their public views on the law or legal issues shape public opinion,” he added.
Mr. Rabuku noted that none of the senior lawyers or high-ranking members of the legal profession who publicly called for his immediate resignation reached out to him personally. “We all know each other because we have been in the same profession for years, and I have worked with some of them.”
He explained that if they had contacted him, he would have informed them about his planned departure based on the Supreme Court opinion and the decision of the Judicial Services Commission (JSC). “It was just a matter of the JSC sorting out my exit and on what terms. It was not a ‘rule of law’ issue but an administrative matter that needed careful handling to ensure a smooth transition within the DPP’s office while allowing me to exit with dignity,” he clarified.
Mr. Rabuku stressed the importance of honest conversations among lawyers instead of making public statements that can mislead and affect public opinion. He confirmed receiving his revocation letter from President Ratu Wiliame Katonivere, marking the official end of his tenure as Acting Director of Public Prosecutions at midnight tonight.