High Court Judge Justice Dane Tuiqereqere will now deliver his judgement on Friday where the Commission of Inquiry report into the appointment of Barbara Malimali as FICAC Commissioner is being challenged by Malimali, former Attorney General Graham Leung counsel Wylie Clarke and Laurel Vaurasi through a Judicial Review.
Justice Tuiqereqere was expected to deliver it today however he says the judgement is not ready.
He also confirmed that Prime Minister through his counsel and former COI Chair Justice David Ashton-Lewis have filed their affidavit in response to his minute where Justice Tuiqereqere directed the Government respondents, which include the Commission of Inquiry, the President, the Prime Minister and the Attorney-General, to confirm whether Malimali and her lawyer were excluded from the oral evidence of key witnesses during the Commission of Inquiry hearing.
He said the affidavits are helpful but will not affect the outcome.
Upon questioning by Malimali’s counsel Samuela Savu, Justice Tuiqereqere confirmed that Justice Ashton-Lewis has said that Malimali was not barred during the hearing, however Malimali said she was.
Justice Tuiqereqere says he will not make a ruling on this.
The judge says his focus is on completing the lengthy judgement by this Friday.