The Attorney-General Graham Leung has confirmed the appointment of John Rabuku as the new deputy Director of Public Prosecution (DPP). This announcement follows Rabuku’s departure from his role as acting DPP just five weeks prior. The acting DPP, Nancy Tikoisuva, made the appointment public on Wednesday.
Last month, Leung had requested Rabuku to leave the acting DPP position after the Supreme Court deemed that his appointment was ‘ineligible.’ Leung emphasized that under the Constitution, the DPP has the sole authority to appoint staff members, and such decisions are made exclusively by the DPP or their acting representative, without the need for input from the Judicial Services Commission or the Attorney-General.
He also noted that if the acting DPP takes leave, it does not automatically imply that the deputy will take over the role.