We have recommended Malimali’s suspension to President : Mason

We wrote to the Judicial Services Commission and asked them to recommend FICAC Commissioner, Barbara Malimali’s suspension to the President.

This has been confirmed by senior legal counsel, Janet Mason when asked by fijivillage News about the action being taken against Malimali, following claims by former FICAC employee and Commission of Inquiry witness, Kuliniasi Saumi that his termination was an act of witness intimidation.

Mason says her team had written to the Judicial Services Commission requesting that they recommend Malimali’s suspension to the President.

She says they had also reported the matter to the Criminal Investigation Department, noting that Saumi had already given his statement while she is still in the process of finalising hers.

When asked about the timeline for an outcome, Mason says it depends on the police investigation and their own internal procedures.

She says once her statement is submitted, the investigation would proceed according to the police’s processes.

She also says they have written to the JSC twice although the JSC says it does not have the power to suspend and they are now seeking an official opinion on the matter.

When asked about the progress of the Commission of Inquiry, Mason says four witnesses are yet to give their testimonies and they are expected to finish by this week.

fijivillage News has sent questions to Judicial Services Commission Chair, Chief Justice Salesi Temo. He has not made any comments.

Malimali, Prime Minister Sitiveni Rabuka and Attorney General Graham Leung have remained quiet as more allegations have surfaced against Malimali.

Former Acting Police Commissioner, Juki Fong Chew confirmed last week that two complaints have been lodged against Malimali, and the CID are looking into it.

The former FICAC employee, Kuliniasi Saumi who has filed a Police complaint of intimidation of a witness, claims he was unlawfully terminated by Barbara Malimali.

Another complaint deals with the alleged payment to the defence counsel for the Commission of Inquiry.