Nine CoI investigation files sent to DPP for legal review

Nine investigation files linked to the Commission of Inquiry (CoI) into the appointment of former FICAC Commissioner Barbara Malimali are now with the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (ODPP), awaiting legal advice.

Commissioner of Police Rusiate Tudravu confirmed during a press conference in Suva today that three additional files had been submitted to the ODPP since the last update in September, leaving only two cases still under investigation.

“I can confirm as of today (yesterday) that another three investigation files have been forwarded to DPP for legal advice,” Mr Tudravu said.

“This leaves two cases that are still under investigation and they include a complaint against a senior member of the Commission of Inquiry, while the second case is a complaint lodged by the former Fiji Independent Commission Against Corruption (FICAC) Commissioner against a senior member of FICAC.”

Of the 12 reports initially under investigation, one case has been filed due to insufficient evidence. This involved a 2024 complaint against the former FICAC Commissioner for allegedly leaking confidential information from the National Voter Registration database.

“The investigation file was returned from ODPP and was filed because of insufficient evidence to proceed any investigation,” Mr Tudravu said.

The CoI has faced intense scrutiny since its report was delivered earlier this year. When asked whether the Judicial Services Commission’s decision to seek a judicial review of the CoI report would interfere with police investigations, Mr Tudravu said it would not.

“It will not interfere unless a decision is done by the court on that matter.

“For us, we will conduct our own investigation and we’ll hand over the file to the ODPP.”

Mr Tudravu said police would continue investigating the remaining two cases while awaiting the ODPP’s legal advice on the nine files already submitted.

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