The stepson of suspended Fiji Corrections Service Commissioner Dr. Jalesi Nakarawa, Inia Yavala, has appeared before the tribunal investigating allegations of misconduct against his stepfather. Yavala claims that three officers who testified earlier this week provided false evidence against him regarding his recruitment process, suggesting a breach of protocol.
During his testimony, the 24-year-old Yavala asserted that he successfully completed all stages of the selection process, including the fitness and psychological tests, upon joining the service on March 18. He vehemently denied allegations that he failed the crucial 2.4-kilometer run or left the testing ground prematurely. When confronted with recruitment records indicating that he “did not finish” the run, Yavala maintained that this information was incorrect and that the three officers were “not telling the truth.”
Yavala could not provide specific names among the 55 individuals who could corroborate his claims, which raised questions about the substantiation of his assertions. The tribunal panel, which includes Justices Daniel Goundar, Dane Tuiqereqere, and Savenaca Banuva, continues to examine the allegations as the inquiry progresses.
Furthermore, testifying in relation to the claims against Dr. Nakarawa, Services Welfare Officer Vili Veikoso detailed a request from the Corrections Wives’ Association for financial assistance for a volleyball tournament. Veikoso revealed that Dr. Nakarawa instructed him to prepare the necessary documentation for Board approval and indicated that payment was processed to Dr. Nakarawa’s wife, the acting president of the association.
He also commented on the acquisition of expensive furniture for Dr. Nakarawa’s residence, stating that the Chief Logistics Officer approved the use of welfare funds for such purchases. Despite acknowledging that no formal meeting was held to discuss these expenditures, Veikoso expressed that he did not see them as an abuse of the welfare fund at the time, as they seemed to align with the fund’s policy.
The tribunal’s ongoing deliberations spotlight broader issues of governance and recruitment practices within the Fiji Corrections Service, previously underscored by suspicions of nepotism. Similar past hearings have raised concerns about the integrity of hiring processes, urging reforms to ensure transparency and meritocracy.
As this inquiry unfolds, it represents a crucial moment to address institutional ethics and accountability, offering a potential pathway to restore public trust in governance within Fiji’s correctional framework. While the allegations against Dr. Nakarawa present challenges, they also ignite hope for meaningful reforms aimed at enhancing operational standards and ensuring that the staff’s welfare fund is used appropriately. The hearings will continue tomorrow.