The recent arrest of Barbara Malimali, the newly appointed Commissioner of the Fiji Independent Commission Against Corruption (FICAC), by her own employees has raised concerns within the government regarding the implications for her appointment.
Attorney-General Graham Leung described the event as “extraordinary,” highlighting that it is unprecedented for a newly appointed leader to be detained by their staff on their first day. He was alerted about the situation while in Parliament and expressed surprise at the unexpected development.
Leung questioned the legality of the arrest and noted that Francis Puleiwai, one of the applicants for the FICAC role, had also sought the position. A total of 20 applications were received, from which four candidates were shortlisted. Following a transparent, merit-based process, Malimali was selected for the position, with the Judicial Services Commission (JSC) making the recommendations to the President.
He reaffirmed that all constitutional procedures were adhered to prior to the appointment, emphasizing that adherence to legal processes is vital for public officials.
Leung pointed out that any candidate dissatisfied with the appointment has legal options available, including court challenges or appeals. He also revealed that two days prior, FICAC had issued a search warrant related to the Electoral Commission, seeking information connected to Malimali amidst these unfolding events, which raises questions regarding the motives of her arrest.
He concluded that the situation had been resolved as Malimali was released following the incident.