Key Witness Fired
Assistant Commissioner of Police Crime Mesake Waqa said: We confirm that there is a report by Ms Mason and also one of the FICAC officers.
Wednesday 29 January 2025 | 11:30
From left: Chief Justice Salesi Temo, Fiji Independent Commission Against Corruption (FICAC) Commissioner Barbara Malimali and Commission of Inquiry assisting counsel Janet Mason. Photos: Leon Lord
Police is investigating a case of intimidation of a witness in the ongoing Commission of Inquiry (COI) against the Fiji Independent Commission Against Corruption (FICAC) chief Barbara Malimali.
FICAC Manager Investigations Kuliniasi Saumi was dismissed by Ms Malimali last Friday.
Mr Saumi is a key witness among the 35 COI witnesses.
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The COI began on January 6, 2025. It did not sit on Monday as the commission learnt that Mr Saumi was dismissed from his role.
Intimidation of witness
Mr Saumi’s dismissal from his FICAC managerial role is deemed an act of intimidation, according to COI Counsel Assisting Janet Mason.
COI lodged a complaint on Monday; the police Criminal Investigation Department (CID) is now handling the matter.
Other key FICAC witnesses include the Investigator Alifereti Wakanivesi and manager Legal Laite Bokini.
No, it did not happen yesterday (Monday), we got a witness interference issue, Ms Mason told this masthead yesterday.
You will know that the integrity of any hearing has to be pre-served and witnesses should not be inferred with, she said.
A day was wasted but we got other things to do as you know, we got reporting “ it wasn’t wasted as such.
We just didn’t have a hearing day yesterday (Monday) because we wanted to do all that we can to resolve this.
This masthead has also learned that the commission had earlier recommended to then President Ratu Wiliame Katonivere and Prime Minister Sitiveni Rabuka that Ms Malimali be relieved as commissioner pending the COI inquiry.
Obviously witnesses should feel like they have been intimidated or they could lose their jobs, or any other punitive measures, Ms Mason said.
It is really important that all those people giving evidence do not feel that they need to cartel what they saying or somehow not say or give evidence.
When contacted yesterday, the Judicial Services Commission (JSC) chair and Chief Justice Salesi Temo declined to comment.
Under the 2013 Constitution, JSC is the mandated body that recommends the FICAC Commissioner post to the President for endorsement.
Police
Assistant Commissioner of Police Crime Mesake Waqa said: We confirm that there is a report by Ms Mason and also one of the FICAC officers.
This was lodged yesterday and is handled by CID.
Feedback: jone.salusalu@fijisun.com.fj
