Former Prime Minister and leader of the Fiji Labour Party, Mahendra Chaudhry, has accused Barbara Malimali’s appointment as Commissioner of the Fiji Independent Commission Against Corruption (FICAC) of being politically motivated.
In a statement, Chaudhry suggested that this appointment was made to prevent Deputy Prime Minister and Finance Minister Professor Biman Prasad from facing charges and to stop investigations into complaints against other ministers being investigated by FICAC.
Chaudhry claimed that both the President and Prime Minister Sitiveni Rabuka were aware that Malimali was under investigation before her appointment. He referenced a letter from FICAC that was reportedly delivered to both the President and the Prime Minister’s offices on August 30, indicating an investigation into Malimali for abuse of office.
According to Chaudhry, after receiving the letter, the President’s office responded on September 3, stating that legal advice would be sought. The Prime Minister acknowledged receipt of the correspondence. Chaudhry argued that since Malimali was appointed Commissioner on September 4, the authorities clearly knew about the ongoing investigation.
He indicated it is reasonable to assume that the President consulted the Attorney General regarding Malimali’s investigation, especially when approving her appointment. Chaudhry characterized these revelations as a calculated political move to obscure the truth about Malimali’s appointment from the public.
He expressed concern over what he perceives as a deliberate attempt to mislead the public with irrelevant information concerning the matter and emphasized the importance of transparency, insisting that the credibility of the Judicial Service Commission, the Attorney General’s office, and both the President and the Prime Minister is at stake.
Chaudhry called for Malimali to resign from her position as Commissioner of FICAC until the allegations against her are thoroughly investigated and made public. He noted that she had been arrested by FICAC and was due to face charges before the investigation was interrupted by the resignation of the then acting Deputy Commissioner, Francis Puleiwai.
Chaudhry recalled that at the time of the interruption, charges had been finalized against Finance Minister Biman Prasad for submitting false financial declarations. He questioned why these charges were halted and raised concerns about Prasad being appointed to lead Fiji’s delegation to COP 29 in Azerbaijan despite the allegations.
Chaudhry also referenced ongoing investigations into seven other Cabinet ministers who were referred to FICAC by the Registrar of Political Parties, questioning whether those cases are still being pursued. He warned that any obstruction to the legal process regarding these matters would diminish confidence in law enforcement agencies and the Rabuka administration.
He urged Prime Minister Rabuka to act honorably and prioritize truth over political interests, reminding that all individuals are equal under the law.