FICAC spends $2m a year on investigations

The Fiji Independent Commission Against Corruption (FICAC) spends approximately $2 million from its budget on investigations annually, Acting Commissioner Lavi Rokoika revealed yesterday.

Responding to questions during an end-of-year press briefing, Ms Rokoika said the commission operated within the budget approved by Government.

“We have a budget from government, and it’s with the budget. I can say for certain that two million was cut off from our latest budget, but we have to work within the monies that’s given to us,” she said.

Stats

The commission closed 224 investigation files between June and December 2025, while laying 14 new charges during this period.

Ms Rokoika said the commission currently had 268 active investigation files and 172 matters pending in court.

The commission received 108 complaints during this period, of which 81 have been assessed.

Ms Rokoika said not every complaint becomes an investigation, and not every investigation results in prosecution.

“This is not inaction, it is the proper and lawful application of evidentiary thresholds and prosecutorial discretion,” she said.

The acting commissioner said decisions are based on evidence rather than speed.

“It’s not based on how fast we go, how slow we go, but in terms of the evidence that is with us. That is the basis on which we proceed with files,” Ms Rokoika said.

Some closed cases included long-standing files dating back to 2007, when the commission was established. The oldest matter currently pending in court is from 2013.

The commission’s Western and Northern divisions have 104 pending files, while the Central and Eastern division has 164 files.