Malimali Goes on Leave, Fotofili Fills in
Throughout his tenure at ODPP, Mr Fotofili was involved in the prosecution of high-profile criminal trials, including cases of murder, rape, sedition, maritime fishing, and fraud.
Friday 21 February 2025 | 10:27
Nasinu Magistrate’s Court Resident Magistrate Lisiate Fotofili was appointed Fiji Independent Commission Against Corruption (FICAC) Acting Deputy Commissioner on Wednesday.
While his appointment may pause the constitutional debate over the Judicial Services Commission’s (JSC) mandate, it comes at a time when FICAC Commissioner Barbara Malimali has been asked to take a three-week leave by the JSC chairperson and Chief Justice Salesi Temo.
Mr Fotofili is no stranger to the legal fraternity given his extensive legal expertise of 18 years.
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He has spent 11 years as a prosecutor and approximately eight years serving as a Resident Magistrate.
Early days
Mr Fotofili’s career in law began in 2007 when he joined the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (ODPP) as a Legal Officer.
In May 2012, he was appointed Principal Legal Officer (PLO) and later served as Manager for the Serious Crimes Division at the ODPP in Suva from May 2014 to May 2015.
He was subsequently posted to Labasa as Principal Legal Officer for the Northern Division until 2018.
Throughout his tenure at ODPP, Mr Fotofili was involved in the prosecution of high-profile criminal trials, including cases of murder, rape, sedition, maritime fishing, and fraud.
He also handled criminal appeals in the High Court, Court of Appeal, and Supreme Court of Fiji.
Resident Magistrate
In 2018, Mr Fotofili was sworn in as a Resident Magistrate by the former President of Fiji, His Excellency Jioji Konrote.
Mr Fotofili presided over the Tavua and Rakiraki Magistrates Courts until 2024, and then serving at the Nasinu Magistrates Court until his appointment as Acting Deputy Commissioner of FICAC.
As a Magistrate, he presided over a wide array of criminal, civil, and family cases, including bribery, breach of trust, robbery, theft, violent crimes, sexual offences, family property disputes, contract breaches, tort, and appeals from the Small Claims Tribunal.
Mr Fotofili holds a Postgraduate Certificate in Corruption Studies from the University of Hong Kong, a Postgraduate Diploma in Legal Practice, and a Bachelor of Laws from the University of the South Pacific
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