Former FICAC Commissioner and legal expert, Barbara Malimali, has praised the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions for their thorough and independent assessment of police files related to the Commission of Inquiry. In a recent social media post, Malimali expressed her gratitude to the Acting Director of Public Prosecutions and her senior management team for assigning senior state prosecutors without any prior connections to her.
She elaborated that the investigation files underwent multiple levels of evaluation before being forwarded for an independent review to Ian Lloyd KC, whose qualifications she staunchly supported. Malimali highlighted Lloyd’s impressive background, referencing his previous role as a judge in the significant case of Qarase v Bainimarama and noting his appointment as King’s Counsel in 1989. Moreover, she pointed out that he was the first General Counsel for the New South Wales Independent Commission Against Corruption.
Addressing the public’s misconceptions, she urged people not to compare Lloyd’s extensive legal experience with individuals of uncertain legal credentials. Malimali also encouraged a reevaluation of public perceptions regarding her previous appointment, countering the prevailing narrative that she was positioned in FICAC to protect politicians. Instead, she prompted the public to consider who truly benefits from her departure and the currently underutilized state of the commission.
By posing provocative questions about the implications of FICAC’s limited focus on politicians and junior civil servants, she underscored the potential consequences for issues like corruption and drug-related crime. Malimali’s comments underscore the critical role of robust anticorruption institutions in addressing systemic challenges and maintaining public integrity.
With the public discourse now shifting towards these critical issues, there is an opportunity for positive change and the strengthening of integrity mechanisms within Fiji’s governance structures.