The recent arrest of Barbara Malimali, the newly appointed Commissioner of the Fiji Independent Commission Against Corruption (FICAC), by her own staff has raised concerns within the government regarding the impact on her appointment. In his initial press conference, Attorney-General Graham Leung described the incident as an “extraordinary morning,” noting the unusual nature of a new leader being arrested on their first day.
Leung revealed that he was surprised by the call he received about the arrest while he was in Parliament. He further questioned the legality of Ms. Malimali’s arrest by her staff. He pointed out that Francis Puleiwai, who had apparently played a role in the arrest, was among those who applied for the FICAC position, which had attracted approximately 20 applicants in total.
After a transparent selection process, Malimali was appointed from a shortlist of four candidates. The Judicial Services Commission (JSC), which made recommendations to the President, was responsible for the appointment, and all constitutional procedures were reportedly followed.
Emphasizing the importance of adherence to legal processes for public officials, Leung mentioned that dissatisfied applicants have legal recourse to challenge appointments. He also noted that just days before the arrest, FICAC had issued a search warrant seeking information regarding Malimali from the Electoral Commission, prompting serious questions about the motivations behind her arrest.
Ultimately, he stated, the situation was resolved as Ms. Malimali was released the same day.