There are revelations that the Secretary to the President’s Office was picked up in a vehicle and summoned to appear before the Commission of Inquiry to answer questions regarding why the President, Ratu Naiqama Lalabalavu had not suspended FICAC Commissioner, Barbara Malimali.
This has been confirmed by Senior Legal Counsel Janet Mason to fijivillage News after we questioned her about this.
Questions have been raised on why this act was necessary, and whether the Commission of Inquiry should have gone to that extent.
It has also been raised on whether the COI had overstepped it's parameters by asking why the President did not suspend Malimali, as their inquiry is focused on Malimali's appointment as the FICAC Commissioner.
When questioned further, Mason says she cannot disclose specific details of the hearing.
Meanwhile, the nine-week investigation into the appointment of Malimali as FICAC Commissioner concluded yesterday.
The inquiry, led by Senior Australian jurist and current Judge of the Supreme Court of Fiji, Justice David E. Ashton-Lewis and Senior Legal Counsel Janet Mason, focused on assessing whether the appointment was conducted with fairness, transparency and legal integrity.
Mason confirmed that while the inquiry had concluded, the Commission is seeking an extension to complete its final report, which is now expected by the 11th of next month.
She says the complexity and volume of information from the hearings required additional time to produce a thorough report. She adds that the Prime Minister’s public stance was to refrain from interfering with the process.
Mason says the Commission remains concerned about the potential threats to FICAC employees who had provided evidence during the inquiry.
In response to questions about the cost of the inquiry, Justice Lewis says complaints about the costs were based on misinformation.
He says the costs related to the inquiry, including his salary and that of Mason, were very low compared to what they would typically earn.
He adds that both he and Mason, however, are committed to Fiji and its judicial process.
The Commission’s final report will be released in six weeks.
Stay with us for further developments.
