PM says allegations against Acting FICAC Commissioner have to be investigated

Prime Minister, Sitiveni Rabuka says the allegations of nepotism against the Acting FICAC Commissioner, Lavi Rokoika have to be investigated, and the Judicial Services Commission can do whatever they want in relation to this.

Rabuka has now made these comments to the media after he was questioned in relation to the allegations levelled against Rokoika by a whistleblower who sent the letter to the Judicial Services Commission and the Legal Practitioners Unit.

He says Rokoika was appointed following the recommendations of the Commission of Inquiry and the King's Counsel advised him on what to do with the Judicial Services Commission, and at that time, the JSC did not act as required.

Rabuka says now everything is back to normal and the JSC can do whatever they want.

fijivillage News has sent questions to the JSC chaired by Chief Justice Salesi Temo on what it is doing in relation to the whistleblower's letter, and will the matter be handled with urgency.

The JSC is the body that recommends to the President on who should be the Commissioner of FICAC. They are supposed to recommend who is to be appointed, suspended or dismissed. 

There have been reports that Rokoika's husband, Tevita Vakalalabure has been at her office and issues of a breach of confidentiality is now being raised by the whistleblower.

The whistleblower has written that they have observed Rokoika's husband spending extended hours in her private office.

It further says there is a strong suspicion among staff that he has been allegedly permitted access to sensitive and confidential FICAC files.

fijivillage News has also been informed by some staff members that Vakalalabure is often seen inside the Commissioner's office, and some staff have told us that they have even allegedly seen him sitting and reviewing the FICAC Strategic Plan, which they say was an unacceptable and awkward situation.

When we put the questions to Vakalalabure, he says his wife works very hard, and she stays late at the office from when she started.

He says he is not privy to what she does but like every spouse he is there to support her.

He add we do not know what can happen as the FICAC drivers are not trained security guards.

Vakalalabure says he is worried when his wife is working late and coming out in the weekends as the place is empty. 

He says when she stays late, he goes and accompanies her in the office, and they do their own work as he has work to do for his law firm.

Vakalalabure denies the staff claims that he was reviewing the FICAC Strategic Plan in his wife's office.

He says he and his wife are lawyers and they are professionals.