Prime Minister Sitiveni Rabuka has assured former Fiji Independent Commission Against Corruption acting deputy commissioner Francis Puleiwai that she has nothing to fear from his administration and is safe to return to Fiji.
Mr. Rabuka made these remarks during a media conference where he also expressed skepticism regarding the credibility of a recent interview Ms. Puleiwai had conducted with ABC Australia, which is not yet scheduled for airing. An excerpt of this interview, featuring claims against certain judiciary members and government officials, was initially shared on social media by Alexandra Forewood but was removed a few hours later.
In response to inquiries from The Fiji Times, ABC confirmed that a segment from the interview aired on ABC News Channel on September 27, but a full publication date has not yet been determined. A spokesperson for the network indicated that further reporting is in progress.
The ABC did not clarify who had access to the entire interview or if Ms. Forewood, who has been advocating for Ms. Puleiwai, was provided with a copy of the video. The network also refrained from commenting on whether Ms. Forewood was involved in arranging the interview.
Ms. Puleiwai has not answered questions regarding Ms. Forewood’s actions on her behalf. Ms. Forewood, a former citizen of Fiji, has been filing complaints against various government ministers and parliament members with FICAC in recent months.
Additionally, Mr. Rabuka stated that he has not received any police reports concerning the threats Ms. Puleiwai mentioned during her interview. He questioned who she might feel threatened by, asserting that his government poses no danger.
He noted that the police clarified there had been no reports filed, and that ABC had also doubted the credibility of some claims made. Mr. Rabuka emphasized that Fijians are encouraged to report or take action against any government members, asserting that he himself has not felt threatened.
In addressing why the government has not acted quickly regarding the FICAC controversy, Mr. Rabuka explained that the legal process must be followed and that the authority lies with the Judicial Services Commission, not the government. When asked for her thoughts, Ms. Puleiwai indicated that she would wait until the conclusion of the inquiry before making comments. She also stated that she would refrain from naming those she believes are threatening her to protect her loved ones in Fiji.