Former Prime Minister and leader of the Fiji Labour Party, Mahendra Chaudhry, has alleged that certain Ministers, currently under investigation by the Fijian Independent Commission Against Corruption (FICAC) for submitting false declarations to the Registrar of Political Parties and for corrupt practices, are attempting to interfere with the appointment process of the FICAC Commissioner.
Chaudhry contended that these Ministers seek to avoid prosecution by influencing the selection of a new Commissioner, aiming to replace Acting Assistant Commissioner Francis Puleiwai with a candidate of their choosing.
Furthermore, he mentioned previous reports of interference by the Chairperson of the Electoral Commission, Barbara Malimali, regarding the Registrar’s decision to refer the Ministers to FICAC.
“A report concerning Malimali was submitted to FICAC and has been acknowledged; we understand that this issue is currently under investigation,” Chaudhry stated.
He expressed concerns that FICAC, under Puleiwai’s leadership, is facing substantial pressure concerning its investigations into these Ministers. Chaudhry also noted that the Fiji Labour Party has received information suggesting that Malimali may have applied for the FICAC Commissioner’s role, raising questions about her suitability for consideration in this context.