1 day Ago By Repeka Nasiko
A board of inquiry will be appointed to put to rest the air of distrust surrounding the appointment of Fiji Independent Commission Against Corruption (FICAC) Commissioner Barbara Malimali. Prime Minister Sitiveni Rabuka said the inquiry would flush out the rot that caused the whole drama. He said there were too many questions surrounding Ms Malimali’s resignation from the Electoral Commission and her appointment as commissioner.
He said a proper investigation was warranted to ensure the integrity of the process. He labelled the controversy surrounding the appointment of Fiji Independent Commission Against Corruption (FICAC) Commissioner Barbra Malimali a “difficult issue”, but said a “board of inquiry” would be set up to find out who were the players involved in the handling of her resignation from the chair of the Electoral Commission of Fiji and subsequent appointment as FICAC Commissioner. “Those involved will have to front up and give their answers,” said Mr Rabuka.
“They may even be culpable and if there are some culpable activities in some parts for some people, that has to be followed right through to the end.” The PM said somebody had held up communicating Ms Malimali’s resignation to his office. “Somebody reacted very slowly on receipt of the important information and translating that into new communication to inform me as chair of the COC that this has happened on this date with concrete evidence,” he said.
“A copy of the resignation letter with the date on it. “Those chronological sequences will put to rest a lot of the speculations and worries and allegations that is going on.” He added the process to set up a “board of inquiry” into the issue has begun.
“I am looking at the inquiry regulations and legislations now, how does a Prime Minister call for a court or a ‘board of inquiry’. “Once I have done that and looked at the legal frameworks for setting one, I will call for one to be set up and to find out all of the players who have participated in what we now see as a difficult issue.” The chairman of the Constitutional Offices Commission said he also wanted details of when Ms Malimali gave her resignation and what led to former FICAC deputy commissioner Francis Pulewai’s resignation on September 5.
“From the appointment to the resignation of the two office holders of FICAC, including the investigations that have been ongoing and allegations of interference with the investigations. “(It) must be brought out to the open and must be clarified and cleared because that is where the rot is.”.
