Fotofili back with public prosecutions office

Former FICAC Deputy Commissioner Lisiate Fotofili whose appointment was revoked after a Commission of Inquiry (CoI) found it unlawful, has quietly re-entered the judicial system through a temporary appointment at the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (ODPP).

Acting Director of Public Prosecutions, Nancy Tikoisuva, confirmed to this masthead that Mr Fotofili has been recruited for a three-month contract to work on a specific civil case.

“He is employed temporarily, for three months, for a very specific case,” she said.

“He is being employed as a public prosecutor who will be working on civil feature cases.”

Mr Fotofili declined to comment. Mr Fotofili previously served as a DPP prosecutor and resident magistrate before joining the Fiji Independent Commission Against Corruption (FICAC).

He was appointed Deputy Commissioner of FICAC on February 19, 2025, following a recommendation by the Judicial Services Commission (JSC) to the President.

However, a CoI later found that his appointment was unlawful.

Based on the CoI’s findings, the President revoked the appointment on the advice of the Prime Minister.

The JSC has now distanced itself from Mr Fotofili’s re-employment, with Chief Registrar and JSC Secretary Tomasi Bainivalu clarifying the Commission had no involvement in his recruitment by the DPP.

“JSC recommends the appointment of the DPP only and no other legal officers, which I believe is within the DPP’s authority,” Mr Bainivalu said.

Meanwhile, questions continue to swirl around the status of suspended DPP Christopher Pryde.

Prime Minister Sitiveni Rabuka told this masthead he was unaware of the latest developments regarding Mr Pryde, whose salary package remains at $250,000 annually, plus benefits.

“I will have to find out why he has not been called and whether it is a matter for the Constitutional Offices Commission (COC) to consider again,”

Mr Rabuka said after a COC meeting on Monday.

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