Malimali suspended pending investigation by Police regarding allegations against her in COI report - PM

Barbara Malimali has been suspended with immediate effect as Commissioner of FICAC pending investigation by the Fiji Police Force of allegations against her raised in the Commission of Inquiry report.

Prime Minister, Sitiveni Rabuka confirms that President, Ratu Naiqama Lalabalavu has decided this after advice from the Prime Minister and Minister responsible for the Commission of Inquiries Act.

Rabuka says Lavi Rokoika has been appointed with immediate effect as Acting Commissioner of FICAC.

Lisiate Fotofili’s appointment as Deputy Commission of FICAC has been rescinded with immediate effect and he returns to his substantive position in the Judiciary.

Rokoika has assumed office as Acting Commissioner of FICAC and met with Malimali, Fotofili and FICAC Managers at the FICAC Headquarters in Suva this afternoon.

Rabuka asks the people of Fiji to remain patient as they carefully map the implementation of the COI Report.

He stresses he is committed to release of the report which is funded by the people of Fiji however this will be done in a manner to ensure that investigations are not prejudiced, civil rights of accused persons are respected and the rule of law maintained.

The final report of the COI was transmitted on 14th May 2025 with eight chapters and ten annexures with a total of 648 pages including the ten annexures.

Malimali is yet to reveal what she will do.

The President has not released any statement.

Questions continue to be raised how the Commission of Inquiry report into Malimali’s appointment as FICAC Commissioner is being treated as a lot of allegations against several people are in the report without any legal proof.

Calls continue to be made for the report to be made public while Rabuka says that it won't be done as Police and FICAC may investigate some issues raised in the report.

Some legal sources are saying that the report could be weaponised to target certain individuals, and questions remain on legal proof on the allegations made against the people in the COI report.

According to the Commissions of Inquiry Act, no evidence taken under the Act shall be admissible against any person in any civil or criminal proceeding whatsoever, except in the case of a person charged with false interpretation, or with giving false evidence before the Commissioners.

Any person who threatens, insults or injures any person on account of any evidence which he may give or has given before the Commissioners or who binders or deters any person from giving evidence before the Commissioners is guilty of an offence and shall be liable upon conviction to a fine of two hundred dollars or to imprisonment for a term of six months.

Any person appointed by the Commissioners as interpreter who wilfully gives a false interpretation of any evidence or makes an untrue translation of any document is guilty of an offence and shall be liable upon conviction to a fine of two hundred dollars or to imprisonment for a term of six months.

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