100+ Signatures for Malimali’s Removal

A general petition to remove Barbara Malimali as Fiji Independent Commission Against Corruption (FICAC) Commissioner has garnered over 100 signatories.

Alexandra Forwood who initiat­ed the petition on change.org said the petition’s goal is to urge Prime Minister Sitiveni Rabuka to seek an audience with President Ratu Wiliame Katonivere to terminate the appointment of Ms Malimali as FICAC Commissioner.

Ms Forwood claims that Ms Mali­mali was appointed on dubious circumstances, so much so that she was under FICAC investiga­tion before she was appointed FI­CAC chief.

She further claimed that Ms Malimali be charged with alleged abuse of office.

“We humbly request you sign our petition,” Ms Forwood said.

Ms Malimali said everyone is welcome to have an opinion re­garding her appointment since it’s a free country.

Ms Forwood’s call for change in the top FICAC job is not secluded as political powerhouse with the likes of Savenaca Narube, for­mer Prime Minister Mahendra Chaudhry strongly condemning Ms Malimali’s appointment and urging Mr Rabuka to do some­thing about the ‘abuse of power’ now absorbed onto FICAC.

Centre to this controversy is the leaked FICAC letter outlining the charges of Minister for Finance Biman Prasad.

Mr Prasad was due to be charged two weeks ago over allegations of failure to declare all his assets, income, and liabilities before the last election when the new FICAC Commissioner Barbara Malimali was appointed last week.

Acting Deputy Commissioner of FICAC Francis Puleiwai who is now in Australia has labelled the delay in the charges as ‘sad’.

Who is Alexandra Forwood?

Ms Forwood is a former Fiji resi­dent who now lives in Australia. Her adoptive father worked and lived in Fiji for more than 40 years and married an iTaukei woman. She has been vocal on Fiji’s politi­cal issues.

Feedback: jone.salusalu@fijisun.com.fj