I’m likely to exit the office next week – Rabuku

Acting Director of Public Prosecutions, John Rabuku confirms that he is likely to leave his office by some time next week based on the exit plan discussed with the Judicial Services Commission.

Rabuku has also hit out at Attorney General, Graham Leung and Fiji Law Society President, Wylie Clarke for calling for his resignation.

Rabuku says he is the Acting DPP, not the substantive DPP, and Christopher Pryde is the substantive DPP.

He says from his talks with the Judicial Services Commission, it looks like by next week he will be exiting the office, and that is enough time to do any handovers that needs to be made, and allow the JSC to make the pronouncements, and to decide who should be the Acting DPP.

Attorney General, Graham Leung said yesterday that it is regretted that the Acting , John Rabuku should choose to remain in office despite the opinion of the Supreme Court. Leung said Rabuku should do the honourable thing and step aside.

He says the office is bigger than the individual.

Fiji Law Society President, Wylie Clarke urged Rabuku to immediately resign from his position and demonstrate that he respects the laws of Fiji and the courts constituted under those laws.

Clarke says in light of the Supreme Court’s clear opinion, the Fiji Law Society is deeply concerned that Rabuku remains in office.

Clarke says in a society governed by rule of law, all must obey it.

He says high public officials such as Rabuku, who is legally qualified and whose office is central to the administration of justice, have a consequently higher duty to obey the law and not to try to frustrate it.

The Supreme Court judges said that Rabuku's conduct had been described by the Independent Legal Services Commission as very serious and he was publicly reprimanded, suspended from practice for three months and fined $500.

Under the constitution, the Director of Public Prosecutions shall be appointed by the President on the recommendation of the Judicial Services Commission following consultation with the Attorney General.

While responding to questions from fijivillage News, Chair of Judicial Services Commission, Acting Chief Justice Salesi Temo says the commission is deliberating on the matter, and in doing so, it is not subject to the authority of anyone, but the courts.

Acting Chief Justice Temo says the Supreme Court decision is been carefully looked at, in line with this, and the final outcome will be known to the public, through the office of the President, in due course.

He says they ask for patience, as the Judicial Service Commission goes through the process, within the four corners of the law.