Members of the Judicial Services Commission which is led by Chief Justice Salesi Temo are currently having an urgent meeting behind closed doors after the detention of Charlie Charters by FICAC.
The JSC is the body that recommends the appointment, suspension or dismissal of the FICAC Commissioner to the President.
fijivillage News has asked all the JSC members if the Commission can confirm whether the JSC is looking into the matter of Charters held in immigration custody based on a FICAC flag on his file.
We have also asked why is there a FICAC flag, is this being done because he has been writing a lot of opinion pieces on FICAC, and who has given this directive and what will the JSC do if this is an abuse of power and fear tactic.
We have also asked what is the response of the JSC as many people are saying that this is an abuse of power.
Charlie Charters who is still being held at FICAC, has released a statement through his legal counsel, saying he will be questioned today after being held overnight at FICAC's office in Suva.
Speaking through his lawyer, Seforan Fatiaki, Charters says he has been informed that he is being detained on suspicion of aiding and abetting a FICAC whistleblower under Section 45 of the Crimes Act 2009.
He says he has been told that the whistleblower is alleged to have breached Section 13G (Divulging Official Information) of the FICAC Act.
Charters says he wants to thank the three FICAC investigating officers with whom he is dealing.
He says they have been as professional, considerate and attentive as they can be in this situation.
Charters says at Nadi Airport yesterday afternoon, he was offered a “deal” that would have allowed him to continue on his flight to Sydney as planned but the terms of that deal were not acceptable to him or any right-thinking citizen.
He says as a result, he was arrested.
Charters says he and his family are grateful for the many good wishes and concerns for his welfare that they have received.
People continue to be concerned about Charters being taken in by FICAC and the reasons behind it.
They are also concerned about his health.
fijivillage News has been told that FICAC officers had asked Charters in Nadi to reveal the name of the whistleblower who had given him information about FICAC, and they would have let him go.
Charters refused to do that as he is protecting his sources which is the right of any journalist.
He was then brought to Suva after 7.30pm last night, and questioned at the FICAC office again to reveal the whistleblower's name.
Charters refused again, and was kept in custody overnight.
The whistleblower had written to the Judicial Services Commission and the Legal Practitioners Unit to look into the affairs of FICAC.
Prominent lawyer, Richard Naidu has questioned on what legal basis could Charters be detained by FICAC.
Naidu says the FICAC Commissioner has the power to stop the departure of someone FICAC is investigating “in respect of an offence to which the FICAC Act applies”.
He says he can imagine the current powers in FICAC are a bit cross that Charlie Charters has been publishing embarrassing information about them.
But Naidu says FICAC can only prosecute its own people for unlawfully divulging its information (Section 13G of the FICAC Act), not anyone merely receiving that information.
He asks what is there for FICAC to investigate which allows Charlie Charters' detention.
We have sent questions to Acting FICAC Commissioner, Lavi Rokoika, Immigration Minister, Viliame Naupoto and Prime Minister, Sitiveni Rabuka.
Rabuka has told us to ask FICAC as they are independent and act independently.
FICAC has not said anything despite many requests.
Minister for Immigration, Viliame Naupoto says immigration is just being compliant to FICAC's alert and the subsequent stop departure and the case was handed over to Police.
The first session of Charters' caution interview was done earlier today at the FICAC office.
His lawyer says the next session is later today.
Charters is likely to be held overnight by FICAC again, and is expected to appear in court tomorrow.
Stay with us for developments.
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