Prime Minister Sitiveni Rabuka confirmed that he had approached Justice David Ashton-Lewis before and after the 2022 General Election and had asked Justice Ashton-Lewis if he was interested in becoming the Chief Justice of Fiji.
Rabuka also confirmed that they had been looking for a suitable candidate for the position but stressed that any appointment would have to go through the normal selection process.
He says the matter does not rest with Cabinet and involves the Judicial Services Commission, the Attorney-General and the Prime Minister.
When asked whether he still had plans to appoint Justice Ashton-Lewis as Chief Justice of Fiji, Rabuka says he could not be considered for the position due to a conflict of interest, as they are both friends.
When questioned about asking Justice Ashton-Lewis and Janet Mason to identify the "crocodiles in the pond", referring to people believed to be undermining his Prime Ministership, Rabuka said he made these comments in view of the specific subject of the Commission of Inquiry, which was the selection or appointment of Barbara Malimali.
He says there were some words of those who were trying to support her into that and for something that she could do for them afterwards.
Rabuka says he was trying to establish whether there were people supporting Malimali's appointment because they expected something in return.
Following comments about Deputy Prime Minister Manoa Kamikamica being regarded as one of the "crocodiles in the pond", Rabuka says he did not believe this simply on the basis of association, adding that the Minister was a friend of a group of people and he did not want any of his Cabinet Ministers involved or suspected of being involved.
Meanwhile, in an interview with fijivillage News Director Vijay Narayan, Justice Ashton Lewis confirmed that Rabuka had spoken to him before and after the 2022 General Elections and had asked Ashton-Lewis whether he was interested in becoming the Chief Justice of Fiji.
Justice Ashton Lewis also confirmed that Rabuka had asked him and Janet Masion to identify the crocodiles in the pond before the COI and said that DPM Manoa Kamikamica was identified as one of the crocodiles in the pond.
