Laisani Tabuakuro, the Assistant Director of Public Prosecutions (ADPP), has been suspended from her position. Her suspension was officially communicated to her on Wednesday afternoon by Christopher Pryde, the reinstated Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP).
Ms. Tabuakuro was absent from her office the day following her suspension, and efforts to gather her comments were unsuccessful. A visit to her home revealed that she did not wish to provide a statement, directing all inquiries to Mr. Pryde instead. In response to her suspension, she has reached out to Mr. Pryde seeking clarification on his decision.
John Rabuku, the Deputy DPP, chose not to confirm or deny the suspension, suggesting that Mr. Pryde would be the appropriate person to address the situation. Notably, Ms. Tabuakuro played a pivotal role in securing the convictions of former Prime Minister Voreqe Bainimarama and former Police Commissioner Sitiveni Qiliho last year. Additionally, she was involved in the senior management team at the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (ODPP) that filed a case against Mr. Pryde with the Fiji Independent Commission Against Corruption (FICAC).
Questions have been submitted to Mr. Pryde regarding the matter, but no response was available at the time of reporting.
In conclusion, the fallout from the internal dynamics within the ODPP suggests ongoing tensions, particularly following Ms. Tabuakuro’s significant legal achievements. It will be important to monitor how this situation unfolds and what it could mean for the integrity and functions of the prosecution office in the future.
Leave a comment