Malimali labels Rokoika appointment a ‘fundamental error’

Tanya Waqanika’s lawyer, Barbara Malimali has labeled the appointment of Acting Commissioner of Fiji Independent Commissioner Against Corruption, Lavinia Rokoika, a fundamental error.

Waqanika appeared before Madam Justice Siainiu Fa’alogo Bull on Friday for the hearing on her Stay application, challenging Ms Rokoika’s appointment. The application followed charges laid against her by FICAC.

She faces a charge of publicly indicating opposition to the Social Democratic Liberal Party last April. In their submissions, Ms Malimali echoed the same arguments raised in the last two hearings of former Deputy Prime Minister Manoa Kamikamica and Biman Prasad.

She said Ms Rokoika was well aware of her unlawful hiring as well as the application brought on by Kamikamica and Prasad.

However, she pursued sanctioning charges against her client. Malimali said this was a fundamental defect where Ms Rokoika ordered the investigation, interview and charging of her client being unlawful.

The applicants had also made an application to crossexamine a FICAC witness who had deposed her affidavit in support of Ms Rokoika’s case, citing the witness did not show any evidence regarding Ms Rokoika’s appointment.

The court dismissed their application on the ground that it was a trial issue that should only be dealt with at the Suva Magistrate Court.

The respondents chose to rely on their submissions from the past two hearings. The court will deliver its ruling on May 6.