Fiji’s President Ratu Naiqama Lalabalavu has lifted the suspension of Barbara Malimali as the anti-corruption chief but has also revoked her appointment.
Malimali, who was suspended as Commissioner of the Fiji Independent Commission Against Corruption (FICAC) four days ago, is no longer under suspension but has now been officially removed from the post altogether.
Ratu Naiqama also reversed his earlier decision to return Acting Deputy Commissioner Lisiate Fotofili to his substantive post in the Judiciary. Instead, he has just officially revoked Fotofili’s acting appointment, without implying a return to the Judiciary.
In a press statement issued today, Prime Minister Sitiveni Rabuka said the decisions follow legal advice from Professor Philip Joseph KC and are in line with the first recommendation in Chapter 8 of the Commission of Inquiry (COI) Report. Both changes are effective immediately.
The initial suspension of Malimali last week, along with the removal of Fotofili, came as a surprise to many. It followed the President’s receipt of a confidential COI report examining the processes around her appointment and included allegations reportedly serious enough to prompt an active investigation by the Fiji Police Force.
Speaking to Mai TV after receiving the suspension letter, Malimali confirmed her intention to challenge the move legally, calling it unconstitutional. She argued that the Judicial Services Commission (JSC), not the President acting on the Prime Minister’s advice, was the appropriate authority to make such decisions.
While the findings of the Commission of Inquiry have not been made public, sources suggest that the report implicates senior legal and political figures. Rabuka has indicated that while the report will not be released at this time, the government will act on its recommendations and may refer certain matters for further investigation.
Lavi Rokoika is currently serving as Acting FICAC Commissioner.
