High Court to hear Barbara Malimali's case against President, PM and AG on 14th July

The matter where sacked FICAC Commissioner, Barbara Malimali has taken the President, Prime Minister and Attorney General regarding her dismissal will be heard in the High Court on the 14th of July.

Malimali’s application is dealing with the judicial review of the powers of the President, Ratu Naiqama Lalabalavu in terminating her employment based on the advice of Prime Minister, Sitiveni Rabuka.

Prime Minister Rabuka had first announced Malimali’s suspension and then announced that the President had dismissed her after his advice.

These developments took place after the assessment of the Commission of Inquiry report into Malimali’s appointment as FICAC Commissioner.

The matter was supposed to be called before Justice Chaitanya Lakshman, however it was called before Justice Dane Tuiqereqere as Justice Lakshman had recused himself.

Justice Tuiqereqere says he had done so as he knows the witnesses personally.

Justice Tuiqereqere also declared that he knows the siblings of Malimali's lawyer, Tanya Waqanika's husband.

Both parties had no objection to this.

He has given Malimali's lawyer time until the 9th of July to file their written submission while the respondents have until the 11th of July to file their response.

Siddharth Nandan appeared upon Waqanika's instructions for Malimali while Eliesa Tuiloma and Josefa Mainavolau from the Office of the Attorney General appeared for the State.