Nakarawa’s actions unethical: Justice Minister

The Minister for Justice, Siromi Turaga, has labelled the actions of suspended Fiji Corrections Service Commissioner Jalesi Nakarawa as unethical, including employing his wife, Vakaloloma Nakarawa.

Mr Turaga was the last witness yesterday to testify at the Tribunal Court in Suva during the hearing into the inquiry of Mr Nakarawa’s suspension over allegations of misbehaviour and misconduct.

The Minister appeared before the three-member tribunal last night after being subpoenaed by the Tribunal Court.

The Corrections Commissioner is legally required to answer to the Minister for Justice.

Mr Turaga did not mince his words when testifying about the conflict of interest shown by Mr Nakarawa soon after he took office last year.

“He shouldn’t have hired his wife,” Mr Turaga told the tribunal court.

Although there were no legal restrictions on employing family members, Ms Nakarawa’s appointment did not follow proper procedures, nor was the Minister consulted about it.

He referred to Section 130(8) of the 2013 Constitution, which states that any employment or dismissal of an officer should involve consultation with the line minister.

“He didn’t live up to the expectations of the Ministry and the Constitutional Offices Commission (COC) especially after he passed the interview exceptionally well,” Mr Turaga said.

He told the court his son had also planned to join the institution, but he strongly advised against it, given that despite his merit, this would still come out as a conflict of interest.

Mr Turaga was mostly questioned by the tribunal about the steps he took when handling the issues of the changes occurring at the institution.

He maintained that while they were trying to investigate and deal with the issues, they were also worried about the level of confidential information leaked via the media.

He said there were multiple complaints coming from the institutions in itself, most of which were bypassing his office and going straight to the COC.

Turaga’s complaint to COC

Mr Turaga dismissed Mr Nakarawa’s claims that he was not given time to respond to the allegations against him.

He said that when complaints kept coming in, he sought a meeting with Mr Nakarawa to discuss the issues. However, Mr Turaga told the tribunal that Mr Nakarawa turned him down, saying he was sick.

“This for me was a show of disrespect, a challenge to my authority,” Mr Turaga said.

Mr Turaga said just a few weeks after he took office, there were behavioural changes with Mr Nakarawa.

He questioned the Job Evaluation Exercise (JEE) policy that was being implemented under his leadership, especially with the salary disparities and conduct of appointment and dismissals.

Mr Turaga stood by his decision to dismiss the committee to investigate the Commissioner, reasoning that Mr Nakarawa failed to comply with his orders to go on extended leave and resume work the next day.

“He did not provide reason for his extended leave because there were officers that were still fearful of him,” he said.

“How was an independent committee going to investigate when Commissioner was still sitting?”

The tribunal hearing continues today.

Feedback: Beranadeta@fijisun.com.fj