Prime Minister Sitiveni Rabuka has assured former acting deputy commissioner of the Fiji Independent Commission Against Corruption, Francis Puleiwai, that she has nothing to fear from his administration and stated that it is safe for her to return to Fiji.
During a media conference, Rabuka expressed skepticism regarding the credibility of an upcoming interview Puleiwai had with ABC Australia, which has not yet been broadcast. An excerpt of this interview, where Puleiwai made claims against certain figures in the judiciary and government, was briefly shared on social media by Alexandra Forewood before being removed.
In a response to inquiries from The Fiji Times, ABC confirmed that a segment of the interview aired on their news channel on September 27. A spokesperson indicated that they are still working on the full story, with no set publication date yet confirmed. The network did not clarify who had access to the entire interview or whether Forewood, who has been advocating for Puleiwai, received a copy of it. There was also no comment on Forewood’s involvement in arranging the interview.
Puleiwai has not addressed questions regarding Forewood’s press conference on her behalf. Forewood, a former Fiji citizen, has filed complaints against several government ministers and members of Parliament with FICAC in recent months.
Rabuka noted that he has not received any police reports concerning the threats mentioned by Puleiwai in her interview. “It would not come from the government that I lead; who is she afraid of?” he questioned, adding that there has been no police report as confirmed by the ABC due to doubts about the credibility of the information shared.
The Prime Minister reiterated that Fijians are free to make reports or take action against any government member, asserting a sense of safety in the country. He remarked, “If there’s anyone under the most threat, it’s me, and I have not felt any threat.”
When asked why the government had taken time to address the FICAC issues, Rabuka explained that the processes must adhere to the law and are under the jurisdiction of the Judicial Services Commission, not the government or the Constitutional Offices Commission (COC).
Puleiwai indicated she would refrain from commenting until the inquiry has concluded. When pressed about the individuals she believes are threatening her, she declined to reveal their identities, citing a desire to protect her loved ones in Fiji.