Prime Minister Sitiveni Rabuka has emphasized that the decision regarding the tenure of the Acting Director of Public Prosecutions is not within the purview of the Cabinet. Instead, it lies with the Judicial Services Commission and also involves considerations of personal integrity and professional attitude.
Rabuka’s comments were in response to Acting Director of Public Prosecutions Rabuku’s determination to retain his position, despite a recent Supreme Court ruling that challenged his tenure and calls from key legal authorities for his resignation.
“Cabinet has no say in that. Cabinet put forward a question to the Supreme Court. That has been answered by the Supreme Court. Now it is up to the appointing authority to decide on his future,” Rabuka stated.
He added, “But as the Attorney-General had mentioned, it also depends on the personal integrity and professional attitude of the officeholder to see that he does not have the confidence of the supreme legal authority in the judicial side of the separation of powers, and perhaps for the future of his profession in the legal sphere. He should take that as good advice. He has that option; he can do a personal one or await the executive direction from the legal services commission.”
Last week, Attorney General Graham Leung and Fiji Law Society President Wylie Clarke both urged Rabuku to step down. They argued that his insistence on remaining in office undermines judicial authority and governance principles.
Rabuku, who assumed the acting DPP role following the suspension of Christopher Pryde and the subsequent passing of Acting DPP Ratu David Toganivalu, is firm on his stance while awaiting formal communication from the Judicial Services Commission or Cabinet.