The recent arrest of Barbara Malimali, the new Commissioner of the Fiji Independent Commission Against Corruption (FICAC), by her own staff has raised concerns within the Government regarding the implications for her appointment.
In his inaugural press conference, Attorney-General Graham Leung described it as an “extraordinary morning,” noting the unprecedented nature of a new leader being detained by their colleagues on their first day in office. Leung expressed his surprise upon receiving news of the arrest while he was in Parliament.
He questioned the legality of the arrest and highlighted that Ms. Francis Puleiwai, one of the applicants for the FICAC position, had previously expressed interest in the role. According to Leung, around 20 applications were submitted, with four individuals shortlisted before Malimali was selected through a transparent, merit-based process recommended by the Judicial Services Commission (JSC).
Leung assured that all constitutional procedures were adhered to prior to Malimali’s appointment. He emphasized the importance of public officials complying with legal protocols throughout the selection process. He noted that if any candidate is dissatisfied with an appointment, legal avenues such as court challenges or appeals are available.
Adding to the complexity, he pointed out that FICAC had recently issued a search warrant targeting the Electoral Commission for information related to Malimali, suggesting potential ulterior motives behind her arrest.
Fortunately, the situation was resolved as Ms. Malimali was released the same day.