Tarakinikini calls for scrutiny of justice institutions

Fiji's Ambassador to the United Nations, Filipo Tarakinikini, has called for hard questions to be asked about the integrity of the country's justice institutions after drawing attention to links between suspended International Criminal Court (ICC) Chief Prosecutor Karim Khan and two former senior figures in Fiji's legal system.

In a social media post yesterday, Mr Tarakinikini revealed that Mr Khan's wife, Malaysian lawyer Dato Shyamala Alagendra, served as an Assistant Director of Public Prosecutions in Suva.

The Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions confirmed to the Fiji Sun that Ms Alagendra held the position from May 2018 before resigning in early 2019 after a brief tenure.

Mr Tarakinikini also noted that former Fijian High Court judge Nazhat Shameem Khan later became one of Khan's Deputy Prosecutors at the ICC.

Mr Khan was suspended last week by the Assembly of States Parties following a two-year investigation into sexual misconduct allegations. He has denied any wrongdoing.

Mr Tarakinikini said the connections did not amount to allegations of misconduct but raised legitimate questions about institutional proximity.

"Accountability cannot be selective," he said.

"If Fiji is serious about the TRC, about constitutional reform, and about 2027, we must be willing to ask hard questions about our institutions, regardless of where those questions lead."

The Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions and Minister for Justice Siromi Turaga had not responded to questions by press time.