Francis Puleiwai, the former acting deputy commissioner of the Fiji Independent Commission Against Corruption (FICAC), has alleged that government ministers and senior officials interfered in the agency’s operations during her tenure. In an interview with ABC News Australia, she highlighted that such interferences caused delays in their investigations.
Puleiwai noted that complaints directed to FICAC came not just from within but also from external sources, including the Supervisor of Elections, particularly regarding the declarations made by ministers still under investigation. She emphasized that some ministers contacted her directly to inquire about any complaints against them, to which she consistently responded that the processes should unfold naturally.
She indicated that this interference was not exclusive to the current government and mentioned similar challenges faced during the former administration, stating that ministers were intent on following up on complaints related to them. Puleiwai pointed out that this direct interference reached a peak around September 5, 2024, when they intended to execute search warrants that required court approval.
Furthermore, she expressed concern over the actions of individuals they were investigating who sought to uncover the identity of complainants and the nature of the complaints, which she deemed as a form of interference. Puleiwai refused to disclose confidential information, explaining that her office does not release details about complainants or the specifics contained within search warrants beyond what is necessary.
She also mentioned the difficulty in obtaining relevant documents needed for investigations, attributing such delays to the interference from those involved, which hindered their ability to make timely decisions regarding prosecutions. This situation has led to public speculation about FICAC’s effectiveness.
In response, Attorney-General Graham Leung stated that he was unaware of any interference from government ministers concerning FICAC’s investigations.