The Judicial Services Commission chaired by Chief Justice Salesi Temo, will have an emergency meeting today after the detention of Fijian national, Charlie Charters by FICAC from yesterday.
The JSC is the body that recommends the appointment, suspension or dismissal of the FICAC Commissioner to the President.
fijivillage News has asked all the JSC members if the Commission can confirm whether the JSC is looking into the matter of Charters held in immigration custody based on a FICAC flag on his file.
We have also asked why is there a FICAC flag, is this being done because he has been writing a lot of opinion pieces on FICAC, and who has given this directive and what will the JSC do if this is an abuse of power and fear tactic.
We have also asked what is the response of the JSC as many people are saying that this is an abuse of power.
Charlie Charters who is still being held at FICAC, has released a statement through his legal counsel, saying he will be questioned today after being held overnight at FICAC’s office in Suva.
Speaking through his lawyer, Sefron Fatiaki, Charters says he has been informed that he is being detained on suspicion of aiding and abetting a FICAC whistleblower under Section 45 of the Crimes Act 2009.
He says he has been told that the whistleblower is alleged to have breached Section 13G (Divulging Official Information) of the FICAC Act.
Charters says he wants to thank the three FICAC investigating officers with whom he is dealing.
He says they have been as professional, considerate and attentive as they can be in this situation.
Charters says at Nadi Airport yesterday afternoon, he was offered a “deal” that would have allowed him to continue on his flight to Sydney as planned but the terms of that deal were not acceptable to him or any right-thinking citizen.
He says as a result, he was arrested.
Charters says he and his family are grateful for the many good wishes and concerns for his welfare that they have received.
People continue to be concerned about Charters being taken in by FICAC and the reasons behind it.
They are also concerned about his health.
We have sent questions to Acting FICAC Commissioner, Lavi Rokoika, Immigration Minister, Viliame Naupoto and Prime Minister, Sitiveni Rabuka.
Rabuka has told us to ask FICAC as they are independent and act independently.
FICAC has not said anything despite many requests.
Minister for Immigration, Viliame Naupoto says immigration is just being compliant to FICAC's alert and the subsequent stop departure and the case was handed over to Police.
We have sent questions to Police.
Charters is being questioned by FICAC this hour.
Stay with us for developments.
