Corrections Manager Legal says he discovered he was interviewing Commissioner's wife only moments before her interview

Former Fiji Corrections Service Director of Human Resources Samisoni Naba says he found out he would be interviewing suspended Commissioner Dr Jalesi Nakarawa’s wife for the position of a nurse practitioner by a member of the interviewing panel just before Mrs Nakarawa walked in to be interviewed.

In his affidavit to the Constitutional Offices Commission Tribunal looking into the allegations of misbehaviour by Dr Nakarawa, Naba, who is currently the Manager Legal, says he had told the chair of the interview panel Deputy Commissioner, Akuila Namakadre but he already knew.

He says he assessed the situation and determined that if her being a candidate considering her husband is the Commissioner was an issue, then it could have been dealt with during the selection process.

Naba says all members of the interview panel signed a declaration of interest form before the interview process began and declared that they had no personal, financial, or professional interests that might create a conflict of interest or the appearance of a conflict of interest in relation to the candidates or the interview process.

He says Mrs Nakarawa did not disclose during the time of the interview that she was the wife of the Commissioner.

When questioned if it crossed his mind to stop the process and readvertise with proper requirements, Naba says he was under Namakadre's instructions.

The Manager Legal says he prepared the initial offer letter for Mrs Nakarawa, which was submitted for the Commissioner's approval and went through Namakadre, who gave the directive to Samuela Koroi to include lodging allowance in the offer.

He says Namakadre did not consult him on this and he advised Koroi to find out Namakadre's instruction should he wish to proceed as Director.

Naba says the offer letter was later amended to include a lodging allowance and was signed by Dr Nakarawa and accepted by Mrs Nakarawa on 16 December 2024.

He adds that he then emailed Namakadre, copying Dr Nakarawa, to advise that Mrs Nakarawa was not entitled to the allowance as she was residing in government quarters.

The former Manager HR says Dr Nakarawa replied on 28 December 2024, endorsing the removal of the payment, and the amended offer letter was sent to Mrs Nakarawa by Namakadre on 30 December 2024.

He says Mrs Nakarawa was subsequently appointed and began her duties on 20 February 2025.

Naba also confirmed that Senior Medical Officer, Dr Rayvin Singh, who Mrs Nakarawa was supposed to report to was terminated on the same day Mrs Nakarawa was to start as a nurse practitioner at the National Headquarters.

The counsel assisting the tribunal Juleen Fatiaki says Naba agreed that he had said that temporary appointments are usually done internally when there is a vacant position that needs to be filled.

While responding to questions, he agreed that at the time of Auta Moceisuva and Namakadre’s appointment to the positions of Deputy Commissioner, there was no vacant position.

He says the post vacated by Moceisuva was filled by the late Deputy Commissioner Senior Superintendent Apakuki Qura.

Naba says at the time of appointing James Koroitubuna to the position of International Relations Officer, there was a vacant position but it came about when an officer from his until was sent to the Logistics Unit which was not a legal position.

The Manager Legal has also told the tribunal that following terminated Fiji Corrections Service Director of Human Resources, Assistant Commissioner Salesia Racaca’s disciplinary process, her file was referred to him to look at the proceedings conducted by their internal tribunal.

He says the disciplinary process was invalid because the delegation of authority was flawed under the Corrections Act.

Naba says disciplinary authority over senior officers must rest with the Commissioner or someone properly delegated at the same senior level and in this case, the delegation was to Assistant Commissioner Sevuloni Naucukidi but it was not compliant with the law, making the entire tribunal process void.

The Manager Legal says he formally advised the Commissioner that the disciplinary process was unlawful and Commissioner then asked him to provide legal options on how to proceed with Racaca’s case, including her potential termination.

When asked if natural justice was followed, Naba says Racaca was not afforded an opportunity to present her case, call witnesses, or respond to allegations before the tribunal reached its decision.

He also confirmed that the Commissioner instructed him to find provisions that would allow termination despite the flaws in the disciplinary process and the Commissioner insisted on termination.

The hearing continues this evening.