Why is Malimali appointed as FICAC Commissioner while she is under investigation by FICAC, PM should intervene – Chaudhry

Fiji Labour Party Leader, Mahendra Chaudhry has strongly denounced what he calls the ‘underhanded manner’ in which the appointment of Barbara Malimali as Commissioner FICAC is being processed while she is under active investigation by FICAC for alleged abuse of office as the Chairperson of the Electoral Commission.

In a statement, Chaudhry claims they are aware of alleged undue pressure applied on the Acting Assistant Commissioner of FICAC, Francis Puleiwai to desist from charging a number of Ministers.

However the Acting Deputy Commissioner, Francis Puleiwai has rejected this claim, saying no one has asked her to stop the investigations.

The FLP Leader says they will fight this alleged abuse of authority and power to protect some, and call on the Prime Minister to intervene and let FICAC complete its work on these reported cases.

Chaudhry says he had sent an email to the Prime Minister in whose absence this underhand move was being made.

Meanwhile Electoral Commission Chairperson, Barbara Malimali has been appointed the Commissioner of FICAC.

FICAC confirms the appointment was done through the Judicial Services Commission and signed off by the President, Ratu Wiliame Katonivere.

FICAC has confirmed it is conducting an investigation against Malimali for alleged abuse of office.

FICAC confirms they had conducted a search yesterday at the Electoral Commission.

They reiterated that it was not a "raid", however, it was a formal process of FICAC investigation, where their investigators uplift documentation required via the authority of a search warrant.

We have sent questions to Prime Minister Sitiveni Rabuka and Chair of the Judicial Services Commission Acting Chief Justice Salesi Temo.

We are also trying to get Malimali’s comments.