‘Nakarawa erred in Corrections dismissal’

The suspended Corrections Commissioner, Jalesi Nakarawa, did not follow the proper Job Evaluation Exercise (JEE) procedures when hiring and dismissing employees, the Tribunal Court heard yesterday.

Permanent Secretary for Justice, Selina Kuruleca, made the statement during the hearing.

Ms Kuruleca and Acting Corrections Commissioner, Sevuloni Naucukidi, took the stand in the tribunal hearing into Mr Nakarawa’s dismissal in May.

They appeared before Judge Justice Daniel Goundar, Court of Appeal Judge Savenaca Banuve, and Justice Dane Tuiqereqere.

During the proceedings, Ms Kuruleca maintained that her role did not permit her to interfere in the internal affairs of the institution.

She said the Minister for Justice, Siromi Turaga, had referred multiple complaints from the Fiji Corrections Service (FCS) about the Commissioner to her. However, she redirected those complaints to the Constitutional Offices Commission (COC), which is responsible for Mr Nakarawa’s appointment.

She said this was done after realising there was no viable solution emerging from the letters exchanged between the Minister and the Commissioner.

Ms Kuruleca dismissed claims made by Mr Nakarawa’s lawyer, Simione Valenitabua, that her referral to the Constitutional Offices Commission (COC) was an act of whistleblowing. She clarified that she was simply doing her job.

She said Mr Nakarawa failed to declare a conflict of interest when he appointed his wife as the senior medical officer and later as a nurse practitioner — two roles that breached the Job Evaluation Exercise (JEE) policy and required Cabinet approval.

Acting Corrections Commissioner testimony

In his testimony, Mr Naucukidi told the court that the senior medical officer was removed after failing to attend an event at the Naboro Corrections Complex, instead delegating someone else to attend.

Mr Naucukidi argued that such a decision was inappropriate and that he would not have made the same choice.

He said that during the investigation into the former Commissioner's wife, Vakaloloma Nakarawa, staff appeared fearful and hesitant to provide information.

He maintained that Mrs Nakarawa’s termination was not based on misconduct, but rather on her significant influence within the department, which was affecting the investigation.

He added that Mr Nakarawa had similarly dismissed five other Corrections officers.

Mr Naucukidi told the court he had advised against Mrs Nakarawa’s hiring, believing it would worsen an already difficult situation.

He said that during this period, the institution was facing considerable negative media coverage.

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