COI expecting response from President and PM on Malimali today

Senior legal counsel of the Commission of Inquiry into Barbara Malimali’s appointment as FICAC Commissioner, Janet Mason says they are expecting a response from the President and the Prime Minister today after the King’s Counsel advice that the Judicial Services Commission can suspend Malimali.

The Judicial Services Commission had earlier advised the Commission of Inquiry that it does not have the power to suspend Malimali.

Mason had earlier confirmed that they had written to the Judicial Services Commission and asked them to recommend Malimali’s suspension to the President.

There are claims by former FICAC employee and Commission of Inquiry witness, Kuliniasi Saumi that his termination from FICAC was an act of witness intimidation.

She says they had also reported the matter to the Criminal Investigation Department, noting that Saumi had already given his statement.

Another complaint about Malimali deals with the alleged payment to the defence counsel for the Commission of Inquiry.

Meanwhile Mason says Deputy Prime Minister, Manoa Kamikamica and Deputy Director of Public Prosecutions, John Rabuku are taking the stand in the Commission of Inquiry today.