Former Prime Minister and leader of the Fiji Labour Party, Mahendra Chaudhry, has alleged that certain Ministers currently under investigation by FICAC for submitting false declarations to the Registrar of Political Parties and for engaging in corrupt practices are attempting to interfere with the appointment of the FICAC Commissioner.
Chaudhry asserts that these Ministers are seeking to have their cases removed from the scrutiny of Acting Assistant Commissioner Francis Puleiwai by advocating for the appointment of a Commissioner of their preference.
He also mentioned prior reports concerning the Chairperson of the Electoral Commission, Barbara Malimali, and her interference in the Registrar’s decision to report these Ministers to FICAC.
“A report regarding Malimali’s actions has been filed with FICAC, and we believe it is currently under investigation,” Chaudhry stated. He expressed concerns about the pressures facing FICAC under Puleiwai, particularly regarding its investigations into the Ministers. Furthermore, he noted that the Fiji Labour Party has been informed that Malimali may have applied for the position of FICAC Commissioner, raising concerns about her suitability for consideration in this context.