The Suva High Court is set to announce its ruling on January 23 next year regarding an application for judicial review linked to the Commission of Inquiry’s report. This report, which examines the appointment of former FICAC Commissioner Barbara Malimali, has faced challenges from multiple parties who are contesting the validity of its findings and recommendations.
Among the challengers are Malimali herself, Fiji Law Society President William Wylie Clarke, former President Laurel Vaurasi, and former Attorney-General Graham Leung. The group is being represented by lawyers Tanya Waqanika, Richard Naidu, and Seforan Fatiaki.
In the proceedings, Naidu claimed that his clients were wrongfully accused of bullying and coercion during an incident that took place on the day of Malimali’s arrest in September of the previous year. Concurrently, Fatiaki highlighted that his client experienced dismissal from their position as a direct consequence of the Inquiry’s conclusions.
The respondents include the Commission of Inquiry, as well as key figures such as the President, Prime Minister, and Attorney-General. The Attorney-General’s legal representative has countered the applicants’ claims, asserting that they had previously been given an opportunity to respond to the Inquiry but failed to do so.
As the court prepares to deliver its judgment, there is keen interest in how this case will unfold and impact the individuals involved. This judicial review represents a critical moment in addressing the implications of the Inquiry’s findings, shaping the legal landscape and its stakeholders.