Latest news with #FICAC
ABC News
2 days ago
- Politics
- ABC News
Inquiry finds appointment of Fiji's former corruption commissioner "ethically reprehensible"
The former head of Fiji's corruption watchdog says she'll fight to clear her name, after a report into her appointment was leaked on social media and to local and international media organisations. The report by a Commission of Inquiry is scathing of the process surrounding Barbara Malimali's appointment as head of the Independent Commission Against Corruption last year and the senior officials involved. It describes it as legally invalid, ethically reprehensible , a damning failure of integrity and politically manipulated to install a compromised individual into a position of immense power. Ms Malimali and the others adversely named including the Chief Justice, the Chief Registrar and former Attorney General have not been given a copy of the report. The leak has complicated an already messy situation for the government as Prime Minister Sitiveni Rabuka had held off releasing the report while police and FICAC conducted their own investigations. Ms Malimali who was dismissed from the position following the inquiry, says natural justice requires anyone named in the report to be given a copy to challenge it.
RNZ News
3 days ago
- Politics
- RNZ News
Fiji Police investigating Commission of Inquiry report into appointment of sacked anti-corruption commissioner Barbara Malimali
Barbara Malimali says she wants to be able to protect Fiji from corrupt public officials. (X: Fiji Women) Photo: X/Fiji Women Fiji Police have commenced investigations into a Commission of Inquiry report on the appointment of the country's now sacked head of the anti-corruption office. Prime Minister Sitiveni Rabuka stood down Fiji Independent Commission Against Corruption (FICAC) commissioner Barbara Malimali last month after a months-long inquiry was completed. Malimali was appointed as FICAC chief in September last year despite being under investigation by the anti-corruption office. Opposition figures at the time slammed it as "unbelievable" but the government backed her appointment. The 648-page inquiry report, prepared by the Commissioner of Inquiry and Supreme Court Judge David Ashton-Lewis, has rocked Rabuka's coalition government in recent weeks, with one political expert calling it a "full-blown crisis" . The report, which has now been leaked online, includes allegations not only against Malimali, but senior government officials and lawyers, including the nation's highest judicial officer and the head of the Law Society. Local media are reporting that the inquiry found a "systematic failure of integrity" across Fiji's governance and justice systems. They report that the inquiry states the appointment process for Malimali was "legally invalid" and "ethically reprehensible". Read more: Police Commissioner Rusiate Tudravu confirmed via a statement on Wednesday that investigations into the Commission of Inquiry Report findings commenced after the police received a formal letter of referral from President Ratu Naiqama Lalabalau. "A formal letter of referral was sent to the Fiji Police Force and the Fiji Independent Commission Against Corruption, to investigate the Final Report of the Commission of Inquiry and persons of interests, and where warranted, prosecution," he said. Tudravu said he has met with the FICAC acting Commissioner Lavi Rokoika, alongside senior Fiji Police officers "to discuss the specific areas of investigation to be undertaken by our respective institutions, to avoid duplication, and ensure efficiency of the investigation process". He has given his assurance for a thorough independent investigation by the team of senior investigators from the Criminal Investigations Department. "A Commission of Inquiry report into the appointment of Barbara Malimali as head of the Fiji Independent Commission against Corruption has cost the country's Attorney-General Graham Leung his job, embroiled Fiji's Law Society in an acrimonious feud and exacerbated tensions in the governing coalition," Victoria University of Wellington's political science professor John Fraenkel wrote for the DevpolicyBlog on Tuesday. "The country's Chief Justice Salesi Temo is allegedly among those accused by the COI (though, at the time of writing, the report has not been publicly released). "Worryingly, given Fiji's history of coups in 1987, 2000 and 2006, military chief Jone Kalouniwai has visited the Prime Minister's office reminding the nation of his constitutionally-bequeathed responsibility for the 'wellbeing of Fiji and its people'." According to Fraenkel, the inquiry controversy comes at a critical juncture, with the Supreme Court due to rule on the legal status of the country's 2013 Constitution in August and with Fiji drawing closer to the next election, scheduled for 2026 or, at the very latest, February 2027.
Scoop
03-06-2025
- Politics
- Scoop
Fiji FICAC Saga: Suspension Rescinded, Appointments Revoked
Barbara Malimali was revealed as the new anti-corruption commissioner last September. Fiji's prime minister says the country's president has reviewed his decision to suspend the Commissioner of the Fiji Independent Commission Against Corruption, and rescinded the suspension. However, President Ratu Naiqama Lalabalavu has instead revoked the initial appointment of Barbara Malimali as Commissioner. Sitiveni Rabuka wrote on Facebook that this was to implement the first recommendation in chapter eight of a Commission of Inquiry (COI) report in accordance with legal advice. Lalabalavu has also withdrawn the rescission of the appointment of Lisiate Fotofili as acting deputy FICAC Commissioner and his return to his substantive position in the judiciary. Instead, he has revoked his initial appointment as acting deputy Commissioner – also 'in accordance with the first recommendation in chapter eight of the COI report'. The Fiji Law Society issued a statement on Sunday saying suspending the Commissioner of FICAC without the advice of the Judicial Services Commission is unlawful. Society President, Wylie Clarke said the prime minister has no constitutional role in the appointment or discipline of the Commissioner and acting deputy Commissioner of FICAC. Barbara Malimali – who was also the Electoral Commission chairperson – was revealed as the new FICAC commissioner last September. The announcement was causing a stir due to it being unclear if she held the Electoral Commission chairperson role at the time of for appointment – raising concerns about conflict of interest. Then, Malimali was taken for questioning by FICAC officers, sanctioned by the anti-corruption agency's acting deputy commissioner Francis Puleiwai. The Law Society statement this week said the 'FICAC saga' has distracted the Fijian government for many months and the Society had hoped the COI report would bring that to an end. Fiji Opposition leader, Inia Seruiratu, has called on the Government to make the COI report public. Rabuka said he is committed to release of the report which is funded by the people of Fiji. 'However this will be done in a manner to ensure that investigations are not prejudiced, civil rights of accused persons are respected and the rule of law maintained,' he said.
Scoop
03-06-2025
- Politics
- Scoop
Fiji FICAC Saga: Suspension Rescinded, Appointments Revoked
Fiji's prime minister says the country's president has reviewed his decision to suspend the Commissioner of the Fiji Independent Commission Against Corruption, and rescinded the suspension. However, President Ratu Naiqama Lalabalavu has instead revoked the initial appointment of Barbara Malimali as Commissioner. Sitiveni Rabuka wrote on Facebook that this was to implement the first recommendation in chapter eight of a Commission of Inquiry (COI) report in accordance with legal advice. Lalabalavu has also withdrawn the rescission of the appointment of Lisiate Fotofili as acting deputy FICAC Commissioner and his return to his substantive position in the judiciary. Instead, he has revoked his initial appointment as acting deputy Commissioner - also "in accordance with the first recommendation in chapter eight of the COI report". The Fiji Law Society issued a statement on Sunday saying suspending the Commissioner of FICAC without the advice of the Judicial Services Commission is unlawful. Society President, Wylie Clarke said the prime minister has no constitutional role in the appointment or discipline of the Commissioner and acting deputy Commissioner of FICAC. Barbara Malimali - who was also the Electoral Commission chairperson - was revealed as the new FICAC commissioner last September. The announcement was causing a stir due to it being unclear if she held the Electoral Commission chairperson role at the time of for appointment - raising concerns about conflict of interest. Then, Malimali was taken for questioning by FICAC officers, sanctioned by the anti-corruption agency's acting deputy commissioner Francis Puleiwai. The Law Society statement this week said the "FICAC saga" has distracted the Fijian government for many months and the Society had hoped the COI report would bring that to an end. Fiji Opposition leader, Inia Seruiratu, has called on the Government to make the COI report public. Rabuka said he is committed to release of the report which is funded by the people of Fiji. "However this will be done in a manner to ensure that investigations are not prejudiced, civil rights of accused persons are respected and the rule of law maintained," he said.
RNZ News
02-06-2025
- General
- RNZ News
Fiji FICAC saga: suspension rescinded, appointments revoked
Observers say that the anti-corruption commission should be an important pillar of Fijian democratic checks and balances. Photo: ABC/Supplied Fiji's prime minister says the country's president has reviewed his decision to suspend the Commissioner of the Fiji Independent Commission Against Corruption, and rescinded the suspension. However, President Ratu Naiqama Lalabalavu has instead revoked the initial appointment of Barbara Malimali as Commissioner. Sitiveni Rabuka wrote on Facebook that this was to implement the first recommendation in chapter eight of a Commission of Inquiry (COI) report in accordance with legal advice. Lalabalavu has also withdrawn the rescission of the appointment of Lisiate Fotofili as acting deputy FICAC Commissioner and his return to his substantive position in the judiciary. Instead, he has revoked his initial appointment as acting deputy Commissioner - also "in accordance with the first recommendation in chapter eight of the COI report". The Fiji Law Society issued a statement on Sunday saying suspending the Commissioner of FICAC without the advice of the Judicial Services Commission is unlawful . Society President, Wylie Clarke said the prime minister has no constitutional role in the appointment or discipline of the Commissioner and acting deputy Commissioner of FICAC. Barbara Malimali - who was also the Electoral Commission chairperson - was revealed as the new FICAC commissioner last September. The announcement was causing a stir due to it being unclear if she held the Electoral Commission chairperson role at the time of for appointment - raising concerns about conflict of interest. Then, Malimali was taken for questioning by FICAC officers , sanctioned by the anti-corruption agency's acting deputy commissioner Francis Puleiwai. The Law Society statement this week said the "FICAC saga" has distracted the Fijian government for many months and the Society had hoped the COI report would bring that to an end. Fiji Opposition leader, Inia Seruiratu, has called on the Government to make the COI report public. Rabuka said he is committed to release of the report which is funded by the people of Fiji. "However this will be done in a manner to ensure that investigations are not prejudiced, civil rights of accused persons are respected and the rule of law maintained," he said.
