Former Prime Minister and Fiji Labour Party Leader Mahendra Chaudhry has alleged that the appointment of Barbara Malimali as Commissioner of the Fiji Independent Commission Against Corruption (FICAC) was motivated by political interests.
In a statement, Chaudhry asserted that the decision was taken to protect Deputy Prime Minister and Finance Minister Professor Biman Prasad from potential charges and to obstruct ongoing investigations related to complaints lodged against other ministers reported to FICAC.
Chaudhry claimed that both the President and Prime Minister Rabuka were aware of Malimali’s investigation by FICAC prior to her appointment as Commissioner. He noted that FICAC had communicated with the President and the Prime Minister on August 30th, informing them about the investigation into Malimali for abuse of office.
According to him, letters regarding the investigation were delivered to their offices on the same day, with the President’s office responding on September 3rd, indicating that he would seek legal counsel on the issue. The Prime Minister acknowledged receipt of the letter as well.
Chaudhry pointed out that since Malimali was appointed Commissioner on September 4th, it was clear to the authorities that she was being investigated. He suggested that the President would have likely consulted the Attorney General regarding the investigation before approving her appointment on that date.
The former Prime Minister characterized these revelations as a strategic political maneuver aimed at concealing the truth about Malimali’s appointment from the public. He criticized the handling of the situation, stating that there had been efforts to obscure the issue with irrelevant details to mislead the populace. He emphasized that this matter could not be ignored to protect those involved.
Chaudhry expressed concern for the integrity of the Judicial Service Commission, the Attorney General’s office, the President, and the Prime Minister, stating their credibility is now at stake. He called for Malimali to resign from her position as Commissioner until all charges against her are thoroughly investigated and the results are made public.
He also highlighted that Malimali had previously been arrested by FICAC and was set to face charges, but the process was interrupted by the forced resignation of Francis Puleiwai, the acting Deputy Commissioner overseeing the investigations. At that time, Prasad was reportedly facing charges for filing false financial declarations, which were finalized after detailed investigations by both the Registrar and FICAC.
Chaudhry questioned why the case against Prasad was halted and raised concerns about the appointment of a minister potentially facing charges to lead Fiji’s COP 29 delegation to Azerbaijan in November. He also inquired about the investigations into seven other Cabinet ministers referred to FICAC by the Registrar of Political Parties.
He cautioned that any obstruction of the due process in these documented cases could further erode trust in law enforcement agencies as well as the Rabuka Government. Chaudhry urged the Prime Minister to prioritize truthfulness and to act with honor, reminding him that everyone is equal under the law.