The Constitutional Offices Commission tribunal inquiry into allegations of misbehaviour by suspended Commissioner of Fiji Corrections Service Dr Jalesi Nakarawa is underway where his stepson has said in his affidavit that he had no qualifications but was recruited into the engineering unit until October last year.
There are allegations of personal interest, financial mismanagement and abuse of authority against Dr Nakarawa.
It is alleged that Dr Nakarawa on or around the 9th of October 2024, appointed his stepson, Inia Yavala, to the position of Temporary Relieving Corrections Officer Class C within the Fiji Corrections Service.
It is alleged that Dr Nakarawa on or around the 2nd of December 2024, permitted his stepson, Inia Yavala to proceed with recruitment training with the Corrections Service despite failing his Required Physical Fitness Test and appointed several individuals related to himself and his wife; Jalesi Nakarawa, Naivote Qionitoga, Simeli Tikotani, and Viliame Baleisawana as Temporary Relieving Correction Officers (Class C), and subsequently approved their permanent enlistment into the Corrections Service without following the established recruitment procedures.
It is alleged that Dr Nakarawa, in the establishment of the position of Nurse Practitioner authorized a salary range higher than that accorded to the existing position of Senior Medical Officer within the Corrections Service.
There are also allegations that on the 20th of January 2025, Mrs Vakaloloma Nakarawa was appointed as Nurse Practitioner, Central/Eastern Division within the Fiji Corrections Service and Dr Nakarawa on the 20th January, 2025, removed Dr Rayvan Singh from his position of Senior Medical Officer without providing a reason or affording him due process.
It is alleged that this removal was motivated by personal interest to benefit his wife.
Dr Nakarawa on the 23rd of January 2025, allegedly appointed his wife, Mrs Vakaloloma Nakarawa Nurse Practitioner to temporarily fill the vacant position of Senior Medical Officer for the Central Eastern Division and Southern Division.
It is alleged that this appointment was made in the absence of necessary qualifications and experience and in clear conflict of interest.
Dr Nakarawa, on the 28th of August 2024, allegedly sanctioned a payment of $6,869.00 from the Corrections Service Welfare and Sports Fund to fund the Fiji Corrections Officers Wives Association volleyball tournament.
It is alleged that Dr Nakarawa on the 12th of December 2024, sanctioned payments from the Fiji Corrections Service Welfare and Sports Fund to furnish his official residence and on or about the 17th of January 2025, sanctioned a payment from the Corrections Service Welfare and Sports Fund to purchase boat fares for his wife and the wife of Akuila Namakadre.
There are also allegations that Dr Nakarawa sanctioned the use of the Fiji Corrections Service Mechanical Garage to repair private vehicles belonging to his wife Mrs. Vakaloloma Nakarawa and Mr. Akuila Namakadre and also permitted the use of official office facilities and resources including office space, tents, band and utilities such as water and electricity for the benefit of the NHQ wives fundraising initiative.
Dr Nakarawa also allegedly permitted the use of official office facilities and resources including office space, tents, band and utilities such as water and electricity for the benefit of the NHQ wives fundraising initiative.
He allegedly took his wife on an official trip to Hong Kong and used government funds to cover her travel and accommodation expenses.
There are also allegations that Dr Nakarawa arbitrarily removed Mrs Helen Koi, Mrs Salesia Racace and Mr Ilisoni Ratumaikoro from their substantive positions and reassigned them to roles with lesser pay.
Mrs Helen Koi and Mrs Salesia Racaca were allegedly subsequently terminated without cause.
Dr Nakarawa allegedly appointed Auta Moceisuva to the position of Deputy Commissioner, Akuila Namakadre to the position of Assistant Commissioner and James Koroitubuna to the position of International Relations Officer.
It is alleged that these appointments were made without adhering to an open, transparent and competitive selection process based on merit.
Dr Nakarawa allegedly unilaterally approved and implemented a change to the staff insurance provider from Fiji Care to BSP Life without conducting proper consultations with the affected employees.
While reading his affidavit in court, Dr Nakarawa's stepson Inia Yavala says after sending in his application with the help of his mother, he was called into the Corrections Service where the assistant commissioner had his employment letter, which he signed.
He says after working for a few days in the Temporary Relieving Correction Officers (Class C), he had signed his appointment letter.
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