There appears to be no limit to the moral depravity of the Coalition government and its “drunken sailor” attitude to spending the Fijian people’s money, judging from the disclosure before the courts that the sacked FICAC Commissioner, Barbara Malimali, has been offered a financial settlement if she will drop her current action for wrongful dismissal.
Make sure you are sitting down, Fiji, as you take in the following:
Barbara Malimali is facing possible criminal charges of abuse of office (three counts), making a false statutory declaration ( seven counts), perjury (two counts), forgery, violating the electoral laws, witness tampering, false representation and perverting the course of justice. And they want to throw money at her. Your money.
How much money has “Barbwire” been offered? There are rumours of a figure of $2-million (see the comments section of our last post). But surely this can’t be true or she would have taken it, simply because she doesn’t deserve a single saqamoli.
Malimali stands accused of a raft of criminal offences by the Ashton-Lewis Commission of Inquiry into the circumstances of her appointment that if she is convicted, would put her behind bars. $2-millon would certainly buy her enough toiletries to last her in prison for a very long time. But the mere idea that Fijian taxpayers would give her anything at all under the circumstances is an appalling travesty and yet another nail in the coffin of this government’s credibility.
Who authorised any financial settlement offer at all? We need to know their identities and we need a thorough and comprehensive explanation as to why on earth this has been considered at all.
Oh silly me. Of course, it’s because no matter what she has done, no matter how grave her conduct, Malimali is an iTaukei woman and part of the iTaukei club at the heart of the corrupt, self serving establishment that now guides the nation’s future and fortunes. What other explanation could there be? Oh, plus the threat that she might spill the beans on others and this is to shut that big mouth of hers up to stop those beans from being spilt.
The miserable Ms Mali x2 is claiming through her fat-cat lawyer, Tanya Waqanika, that the Prime Minister, Sitiveni Rabuka, didn’t have the legal authority to sack her despite a list of “possible offences” detailed in the COI Report that is longer than her flabby right arm. The argument goes that only the Judicial Services Commission headed by the equally corrupt Chief Justice, Salesi Temo, had the authority to dispense with her services.
But listen up, Barbs (and Tanya). The COI found – among a great many other things – that you were unlawfully appointment in the first place. By all means seek a judicial review of your dismissal. That is your right, as it is the right of every Fijian. But you do not have a right to fleece the Fijian people by getting their money through a corrupt and profligate government to make it all go away. It’s called blackmail. As in “give me enough money and I’ll drop the case”.
Here’s the list of “Possible Offences” Barbara Malimali has committed, detailed in the suppressed Chapter 7 of the Ashton-Lewis Report. And given the scope of her alleged wrongdoing, she should be ashamed to show her face in public, let alone look the Fijian people in the eye and demand “compensation” for her dismissal.
That’s a total of 17 charges, on Grubsheet’s count. And Barbara Malimali – and her patrons in government and the offices of state – thinks she deserves compensation? Are you all completely insane?
Here’s today’s Fiji Times story…
And here’s yet another travesty, Fiji – confirmation from the Police Commissioner, Rusiate Tudravu, that nine people are currently under investigation arising from the COI Report. And guess what? Those cases will ultimately be determined by Nancy Tikoisuva and John Rabuku at the ODPP.
Got that, Fiji? Here it is again…
“We will ensure that independent legal advice is handed to all cases”? Seriously? Independence from the Acting DPP, Nancy Tikoisuva, and her Deputy DPP, John Rabuku? They really think we are all stupid.
The substantive DPP, Christopher Pryde, is being deliberately kept away from Fiji as the big stitch-up unfolds.
Because this is what the Commission of Inquiry Report says about the ability of Nancy and John to be independent when it comes to assessing any case against Barbara Malimali.
The entire response to the Supreme Court Commission of Inquiry is a total farce – a corrupt Chief Justice kept in place and corrupt prosecutors kept in place in the ODPP to “assess” criminal cases against those adversely named in the COI Report.
No wonder Manoa Kamikamica is smiling again. For a minute, it looked as if Mr Sweet’s political career had turned decidedly sour.
But no need to worry. The Big iTaukei Stitch-up is on.
* “Universally corrupt”. The term applied to Barbara Malimali by Justice David Ashton-Lewis in media interviews coinciding with the release of his report.
There are 17 counts of possible criminal wrongdoing to back up the description.
It is rather appalling that the AG’s Chambers has decided to settle the matter with the Malimali team. The AG is the legal advisor to Government. It shows how the mighty have fallen.
Any lawyer with half a brain would have defended the President of Fiji – who dismissed Malmali on the advice of the Prime Minister – based on the COI finding.
Guess what, the COI found the JSC tainted. The head of the JSC, the Chief Justice, the Chief Registrar and the Solicitor General were all found to be tainted in the Malimali affair.
So if the JSC was tainted in the COI findings, the President has all the powers to terminate Malimali. This should have been argued within the court of law.
What is worrying is the fact that this is a “fix match” as we call it in Fiji. The current Acting AG (Siromi Turaga), the SG (Ropate Green Lomavatu) were all implicated in the COI report. They were both heavily involved in the appointment of Malimali. And in order to save face, which includes the Chief Justice and the Chief Registrar, they have decided to waste $2 million (what will the final figure be?). It’s taxpayer’s money down the drain.
They sent the Deputy Solicitor General (DSG) to be their pawn. This DSG was only appointed for one year as he is close to his retirement age. Basically his one final payday. Oh by the way, he went to Israel, to assist in the setting up of an embassy in Israel. It is a first that a legal representative was “asked” to travel with the Foreign Affairs team.
Either way, Siromi and Green are saving face. And who knows they may also get a cut on this sweet deal.
This is insane – why do the tax payers of Fiji have to pay a wrong doer in this case!
The AG and SG should fight hard in accordance with the LAW and COI report. It justified her being sacked as the FICAC Commissioner. She is a liability to the people of Fiji and the Government.
She should face the consequences of her compromised actions both past and present, and should be banned from practicing law in Fiji – Tuvalu has done it, why not her own country of birth? She has impurified it to the worst, and then tries to claim her indigenous status.
SHAME ON YOU BARBARA MALIMALI!!
Funny how this inbred cow’s case made it thus far and so quickly too especially when you consider hundreds of other cases which usually take time to reach hearing.
They are quick to settle and consider the Coalition monkey’s cases and for such an exorbitant amount for someone who was appointed illegally, had a corruption case hovering over her, was incompetent to begin with, and was ushered in to sweep all corruption related cases against the Coaltion stooges under the carpet. This hippo didn’t even spend a year in office and is already eyeing millions of dollars in settlement.
Yet we have career public servants like Sharvada Sharma who is yet to receive his court-ordered compensation because Siromi the SWINE doesn’t want to pay his former boss his deserved dues.
I just pray God doesn’t bless anyone who voted for the Coalition government, even if most are repenting their decision. It’s because of the so called change they wanted due to a personal hatred of the previous government that most voted against FIJIFIRST. Personal – because let’s face it, if it doesn’t affect someone personally through financial or other benefits, no one gives a hoot. But the moment the benefits stop coming in, the conspiracy to kick them out began and look where we are today.
Let’s call it what it really is—this isn’t a settlement, it’s a payoff. A bribe to keep mouths shut and avoid accountability. Sugar-coating it with fancy terms doesn’t change the fact that it reeks of damage control, not justice.
And let’s not forget the so-called $2 million claim. Even if the role was for 4 years at a generous salary of $150,000 per year, it still doesn’t add up to $2 million.
We’re talking about a failed lawyer, someone who was disbarred from practicing law in another country, yet somehow this payout is being justified as if it’s well-deserved?
The public deserves transparency—not silent settlements and inflated figures to sweep uncomfortable truths under the rug.
I am a bit surprised that you have yet to pick up on another important story in Fiji concerning the temple sacrilege in Samabula of the Shiv temple last week Friday which has caused an outbreak of racism that Fiji has never seen before. I wish you could touch on this story too.
It seems that the Indo-Fijians are supposed to be quiet with the so many comments being posted online. Interestingly all stories that covered this in Fiji that were posted online received a haha emoji reaction by i-Taukei. What a shame, its hard to believe Hindus who rarely speak up have been targeted so badly after this incident.
GD please bring this to light.
Of course, this is an important story and yet another example of how Fiji has gone to the dogs so dramatically under the Coalition.
As you’ll have noticed, I have been concentrating most of my efforts on getting the COI recommendations implemented. But be sure that I have your concerns also at the front of my mind. Fortunately, I can’t access the more extreme racism on Facebook but I am not surprised that this is happening. People take their cues from the top and this is a racist and corrupt government that governs for an elite.
We can only hope that the Prime Minister is serious when he says such religious bigotry won’t be tolerated. But he needs to pay more attention to the example that he is setting of blatant racial and religious favouritism that encourages this extremist opinion.
Thanks GD, I am glad to hear that it is on your radar. Appreciate that.
WAIT, If the argument is PM had no authority to advise President to fire Malimali that means it was planned job.
The PM deliberately took this action to compensate her. He is behind everything.
Finally someone hit the nail on the head.
Did the former Solicitor General get his $3m awarded by the courts many years ago? And guess who stopped that payment?
Last I read in the news was that the former SG, who was held by the court to have been unlawfully removed and awarded damages, has not been a paid a cent because Siromi and Ropate (former SGs juniors) don’t want the payment of a cent to be made to him.
Tell rabuka to sell his Rolex and 1.4 million dollar property to pay Brazen Barbie. After all he opened the can of worms by not listening to good advice and tried to be over smart. I bet that Leung guy is rubbing his hands. He will be next claiming wrongful dismissal.
And still nothing about the payment to Tanya for representing BM? Using govt funds to fight your own case?
It all BS at present……..
We even have Ministers contacting our office to keep asking for funds for sports days and meetings and various other stuff… Never happened before this mob.
This is corruption on an industrial scale.
You have an a/Attorney-General who was previously sacked from the role for being incompetent now orchestrating a payoff of a corrupt and rightly sacked FICAC Commissioner!
The same a/Attorney-General who has delayed a court awarded payment to the former Solicitor-General for wrongful dismissal!
The case is being rushed through the courts, despite a backlog of cases. This could only be achieved with the help of the CJ and the Chief Registrar, both clearly allies of Barbara Malimali and who have also been found by the COI to have acted contrary to the laws of Fiji and accused of attempting to pervert the course of justice.
Next, we will see the PM and President suddenly become quiet and hide behind this sham of a court case. Adopting the ‘see no evil, hear no evil, speak no evil’, spinelessness as always.
No wonder the exodus of people with skills, knowledge and expertise continues unabated. Whilst this Government continues to live beyond its means!
Malo and thank you Mr Graham Davis,
You’ve done it again.
It is very very sad reading this, over and over again.
I know most of the protagonists in the CoI saga. Some were in my classes at USP and one taught a class which I attended and enjoyed.
Some are in my neighbourhood. Many many years ago, not long after Ms Malimali graduated, she lived next door in a government house. I also know that many of these actors struggled to get to where they are today. The letter by Lorraine in your earlier instalment was very good. I read it again and again. I hope others read it too.
Amidst the many suffering from wars and natural disasters, including the findings from the Ashton-Lewis Report, the question on many lips is, if there is a God (however one might conceive It to be), why so much suffering? For our tiny islands with barely a million souls, most of whom were raised to be God fearing creatures, why indeed?
I.e. if you fear nothing/no-one, why not facilitate legal processes to take its course and let your truth be told?
What will be your/our legacy when you/I die? We/I took the money and ran? What will our kids live with when we are no more? Come what may, perhaps, they may say, ‘my mum/dad stood his/her ground with heads held high’.
Because, one day, their turn to step up will come. And, all there is left is hope.
If she was not employed legally, then it stands to reason that she did not have a job. Therefore she can’t be fired from a job she doesn’t have.
Which also means she cannot claim compensation for being fired from a job she didn’t have.
Next she will be taking them to court for discrimination as she didn’t get the job because she lied on the application form.
Are all of the people that are offering her a settlement stupid or are they getting a kickback when she accepts the money?
There is no other explanation.
Looks like the begging bowl will need to go into overdrive as this matter of national importance ( feeding the fat cat Barbara MaliMali) is more significant than the deteriorating medical services, the People living and suffering under the poverty line and the free falling economy – long live the people who wanted change and their elected representatives.
The primates in the circus in Fiji are performing new acts almost everyday. I do not know whether to laugh or cry.
When will the government govern and when will anything be better for Fijians?
I think all this is the Fiji First government’s fault. If they had not “lost” the election, none of this would have happened, eh GD?
But then, we would have missed out on seeing all the crocodiles and all the monkeys and donkeys which seem to have taken over the country starting with Chief Donkey the PM and the Chief Chimpanzee the President.
As Pramesh Sharma told the Tanoa team last week, this is the new Fiji under the guidance of leaders like Manoa, Biman etc and it’s up to us to make most of this opportunity (he didn’t mention Rabuka though). Well, this new fiji is a circus with corrupt clowns like Pramesh, Rabuka, Manoa, Biman, Barbs, Lynda, Temo, Rabuku, Nancy, Leung, Richard, Charan, Nitya and all those dim-witted monkeys that have featured in grubsheet’s stories – its a free for all now, be corrupt and do whatever you want.
PS – honorable mention to Cyr wheel performer in this circus, Mr Charlie Charters, his hollow brain just spins in the metal ring.
Her position was void ab intio. This is a gross miscarriage of justice and misapplication of law.
I am so disgusted with the lack of integrity, I vow I will never set foot in my island home again.
Regardless of whether $2m is paid or not, the fact that there is even ‘negotiations’ is wrong when she misrepresented herself on every form she filled out while being a legal practitioner. The optics is that bad behaviour will be rewarded.
I will not contribute a cent towards Fiji’s economy or through tourism. I will not conduct another business venture there nor work there to contribute to the tax base.
I have lived in hope that the COI would be the electric shock the ruling elite needed to bring back integrity into a dirty nation and inspire public trust. Hope that they would model what we want our children to become – honest, ethical, considerate and fair.
No, I will not raise my children or grandchildren in this cesspit of corruption.
Pay Sharvada Sharma. Pundit needs help, not monkey Queen Barbs.
Malimali’s payment for being the “fall guy” after this corrupt team whisked her into power to use her for their own purposes.
I got her $2m right here. In a sack.
Rabuka is a weak gutted dog. No bones whatsoever. Worst PM in Fiji’s history. Corruption of the highest level planned to steal taxpayers money.
Then Temo will get $10 M from the state.
What the PM should really do is reward all the crocodiles in the pond, because obviously, this is Fiji and things here are done differently in their own land.
Not only that, he should reward all the monkeys and the donkeys in his government as well. But first he needs to call another COI to identify them. The last one was only for crocodiles.
I’ve got poor legal knowledge but after this fiasco, can the PM and President be taken to court and charged for abuse of office. Similar to what had happened to Bainimarama and Qiliho?