Confirmation from multiple sources that the former Deputy Commissioner of FICAC, Francis Puleiwai, fled Fiji soon after she resigned last Thursday, fearing arrest and following threats against her family.
In response to a Grubsheet appeal for information about her whereabouts, we are told that she is now in Brisbane, Australia, as the Minister for Justice, Siromi Turaga, makes front page news in Fiji with specific threats to pursue what he describes as FICAC’s malicious prosecutions of Coalition government ministers.
Clearly, the persistent rumours over the last day or two that Francis Pulewai herself was about to be detained and charged with abuse of office are true. But having escaped the dragnet by getting out of the country before Turaga’s goons could act, Pulewai is now beyond reach and the government’s problems are only just beginning.
Multiple sources are also saying that from the safety of Australia, the former FICAC Deputy Commissioner will soon be issuing a statement on what was really going on at FICAC and the political interference in the work of her team.
So Siromi Turaga can fulminate as much as he likes about “acts of malice” and leaks of correspondence from FICAC. But it seems we are about to learn the truth of the government efforts to bring the corruption watchdog to heel and impose its handpicked goon, Barbara Malimali, as FICAC Commissioner, with a brief to block the prosecutions of government ministers (see previous stories).
With her removal, there are up to nine government ministers who have been spared the FICAC investigations that Francis Puleiwai and her team were pursuing. But it is the Deputy Prime Minister, Biman Prasad, who has most to fear from what the ousted Deputy Commissioner might say from the safety of Brisbane. Much of the case against him can be gleaned from the pages of Victor Lal‘s Fijileaks. But Francis Puleiwai in full flight is going to be very politically dangerous for the NFP leader and the entire government.
We are also going to presumably know the precise details of the case against Barbara Malimali over the abuse of allegations against her as Chair of the Electoral Commission before she was handpicked by the government and its stooge, the Acting Chief Justice, Salesi Temo, to move into FICAC as Commissioner and shut down Francis Puleiwai’s investigations. Even the detail of the dramatic events last Thursday in which Barbara Malimali was detained as she arrived for work but Francis Puleiwai was gone by the end of the day are going to make for juicy reading.
So the government’s problems are only just beginning, as is no sign of an end to the chorus of indignation from other political leaders about the sordid state capture of the supposedly independent corruption watchdog. The Coalition thinks the Fijian people are stupid enough to accept that their stooge, Barbara Malimali, can go through each case at FICAC and decide for herself – as she has freely admitted – which ones to prosecute and which ones to block. But it looks as if it isn’t going to happen that way.
The Coalition needed to get the entire mainstream media on side to get away with this exercise in demolishing one of the fundamental pillars of our democracy – the accountability of our institutions and elected representatives. One media outlet is refusing to play ball and it is a big one – the mass circulation Fiji Sun. To its credit again today, the Sun shows no signs of backing off. It has the FICAC story like a bit between its teeth. And the Fijian people look to Rosi Doviverata , Naisa Koroi and the rest of the Sun team to be like dogs with a bone in refusing to let the Coalition get away with this outrage.
It’s a striking irony that according to Grubsheet informants – it was Siromi Turaga who recommended Francis Puleiwai for the job at FICAC, bringing her back from Nauru to take the position. But he made a major miscalculation in thinking that an iTaukei woman he had promoted would meekly go along with his squalid political games. Puleiwai has been sorely underestimated and thank God that she has had the courage to stand up to this government’s corruption and its assault on the institutions of state and the rule of law.
Siromi Turaga could not rely on her to do his bidding. And there’s another character in this pantomime who may also have been underestimated. Our informants are telling us that Francis Pulewai is in touch with the RFMF Commander, Major General Ro Jone Kalouniwai, who was seeking a meeting with her before she left Fiji and presumably is still communicating with her from her temporary exile in Brisbane.
Will the Commander finally have the steel to play a role in breaking this appalling impasse? Let’s hope so. Because what is happening is a full-frontal assault of the wellbeing of Fiji and all Fijians – our constitutional right to have our laws upheld with an integrity and resolve that this government has wilfully ignored right from the start. The attack on the independence of FICAC ought to be the final straw.
POSTSCRIPT:
The Fiji Sun raises an important point. Where are the senior members of the legal profession who have been so vocal about irregularities in the criminal justice system in the past?
The President of the Fiji Law Society, Wylie Clarke, was actually representing Barbara Malimali during the dramatic events of last week. The prominent lawyer and Chair of the government’s Fiscal Review Committee, Richard Naidu, was also reportedly defending Biman Prasad as FICAC was about to charge him.
And where are those other supposed defenders of good governance, the normally vocal Imrana Jalal and Jon Apted? It is as if the dogs of wars past have had their barks surgically removed.
Is it because their old mate, Graham Leung, is at the centre of this outrageous assault on the rule of law? You decide, Fiji.
NOTE: Vicious attacks clearly designed to intimidate Francis Puleiwai are starting to be submitted as comments here. They will not be published.
The letter Siromi Turaga is complaining was leaked – a missive sent to a number of ministers telling them that FICAC was about to charge Biman Prasad.
Biman Prasad thought his problems were over. But they could be just beginning.
All it takes is a media organisation of the size and influence of the Fiji Sun to keep this issue alive and eventually shame other sections of the media to also start covering the story properly. And the team at Gorrie Street have Barbara-gate and the assault on FICAC firmly within its sights.
The elite lawyers have made a huge miscalculation that everyone was as obsessed with Aiyaz as they are. They forgot people care about how they conduct themselves too and people can smell a hypocrite no matter how much water they use.
No matter how you cut it Biman and his advisors have tarnished themselves. Going on the attack against Chaudhry blew up in their faces.
Distraction and finger pointing elsewhere is not working.
They need to take a long hard look in the mirror and come clean. They have stuffed it up. Egg is on faces and the rule of law is in tatters. Good job guys.
There has to be more on Biman Prasad than the issue with incorrect declaration of his assets and liabilities etc. If you read the evidence that has been copied for us to see, with a clear head, with some basic financial literacy, while there are errors in the declaration, there is very little to prosecute him on for corrupt activity or behaviour Those who are parroting corruption, corruption will be sadly disappointed. Unless there is other stronger incriminating evidence the public has not seen, there is hardly anything there to proceed to court with. In my opinion it does not meet the threshold to pursue for a conviction.
There has to be found stronger evidence of skeletons in his cupboard to bring him to justice , if he has acted corruptly. And may that be speedily found.
It isn’t about your opinion but the proper conduct of the system.
FICAC wasn’t just investigating Biman Prasad. It was about to charge him. That means in its opinion, there was sufficient evidence to be reasonably confident of securing a conviction and that its prosecution was in the public interest.
All this armchair speculation is actually undermining the integrity of the system. In the case of Biman Prasad, FICAC had done its job, he was about to be charged and the next step would have been to put him before the courts for a fair trial and a judicial pronouncement on his guilt or innocence.
That has been circumvented and it is unforgivable. A clear attempt to pervert the course of justice.
It’s not a good system if it hauls anyone and everyone before the courts on flimsy or weak evidence. Be it Biman or Bainimarama. And then convicts solely because of the majority of the public’s or a few peoples vendetta and mob thinking or a biased judge. Not on strong cast iron evidence but on subjective irrational thinking lacking wisdom and foresight > By the way – who are the ones now regretting colluding, coaxing, compelling, influencing the Fijian voters to dethrone the previous FF administration – in contrast to others who in wisdom and now proven sound opinion were able to see the clear and real danger of doing that and not swayed by mob thinking to join in the lynch mob. That was the real damage done to undermine or more like obliterate the integrity of the entire “system” of the nation!
I’m steadfast in my observation that expecting a stronger evidence based case against Biman to achieve a conviction is having an expectation that our justice system is robust and competent and of integrity – in delivery of justice by its appointed practitioners. To ensure wrong doers get their cumuppances.
I repeat. It is for the courts to decide if evidence is “flimsy or weak”.
In the case of Biman Prasad, charges are laid when there is sufficient evidence, in the opinion of the FICAC deputy commissioner just as with the DPP, that there is a reasonable chance of securing a conviction and the prosecution is in the public interest.
It is not for that process to be thwarted as it has been. FICAC is NOT independent when a Coalition supporter is appointed Commissioner and blocks an investigation not only into herself but nine government ministers and prevents a Deputy Prime Minister from being charged.
Biman Prasad ought to be ashamed of himself. He held himself up to be a paragon of virtue but refuses to subject himself to the normal processes of the law. In any event, his political career is finished. He has not only betrayed his supporters but subverted the rule of law.
You make a good point and that’s why it is such a disaster to not let the FICAC investigation play out. They say the cover up is always worse than the crime. The FICAC coup is a catastrophe internationally for Fiji. The damage to the reputation of Fiji and its adherence to the rule of law has been summarily trashed. Make no mistake this has been a disaster for Fiji and for Biman. Nothing to hide means no fear of investigation.
This is becoming a high tension Robert Ludlum type thriller! Night raids. Intimidation of a subject. Fugitive on the run. Whistleblowers. Or is it more like a Julian Asange wikileaks type drama.
In any case it shows the incompetence of the Fiji Stop Departure squad – sleeping on the job. Well done Ms Puleiwai..a step ahead of the local FBI ( Fiji Bureau of Incompetence)!!
Siromi and Rabuka aren’t trying to protect Baimaan. They are all trying to protect themselves. Given the abuse of taxpayer funds if Baimaan is charged and found guilty, all these jokers in the Coalition will soon be charged as well.
Karma is a bitch and it is going to bitch slap the f#$k outta these clowns.
In the case of these coalition f#$kwits….justice delayed is sweeter.
It’s truly perplexing, GD, how you so fervently call out the corruption within this government, yet seem to turn a blind eye to the blatant abuse of power by Pulewai. She used her position to unjustly block Malimali, her successor, from taking office. This wasn’t just a lapse in judgment; it was a deliberate and malicious act, done in bad faith. Even worse, it’s a clear violation of the law. Yet, she’s being hailed as a hero. I find it baffling that such a serious abuse of office is being overlooked.
Please refer to my latest article which explains the following:
Barbara Malimali is NOT independent. She is a partisan political player who is now attacking the opposition for having the temerity to question her appointment. The fact that she was chosen to preside over FICAC is also scandalous because she was under active investigation by the organisation.
It is not a “serious abuse of office” for Francis Puleiwai to do what she could to prevent the appointment of someone as FICAC Commissioner who was under investigation and has since thwarted a senior minister from being charged with abuse of office.
You have bought the Coalition’s narrative hook, line and sinker. But it is a stinking fish. And, yes, Francis Puleiwai is a hero for persisting as long as she was able to and then resigning on a matter of principle when it became clear she would not prevail.
Stupidity at the highest level is rife. Next thing on Turaga’s to do list is to request, through the Minister for Foreign Affairs (PM), from the High Commissioner up at Princes Road a list of valid Australian entry visas issued to all those on the Coalition’s hit list, starting with Aiyaz. Thankfully, that will happen when the sun rises from the west and sets in the east.
Let’s hope she had made copies of all those FICAC documentary evidence “charge” sheets as appropriate against those involved. She should then consider calling a meeting, inviting a group of influential media people and releasjng those FICAC charge sheets (documentary evidence), telling the media people that back home in Fiji her Employer’s are attempting to undermine and discredit her. And, here’s the evidence produced all in good faith!
Siromi is such a dumbo commenting on something that is under investigation by a supposedly independent agency.
The guy must have failed his basis year 1 law papers few times.
Expose them all Puleiwai.
Our country is so corrupt and this includes the PM, the President, Army Commander and all our MPs.
Don’t let them get away with any of the corruption and bullying.
The good and hardworking Fijians are counting on you.
This is not about last or this government. This is about all people doing the right thing.
Luckily she had escaped the Brutality of coalition government.
The dumbo bit certainly applies to the whole cabal in government now.
Having legal experience and knowledge, Puleiwai will know exactly what to do with any documents in her possession. And GD on point that if FICAC didn’t have sufficient evidence, then charges would not be laid against Biman. Boy, this thing is getting juicy and yumalicious by the day. Can’t wait to see the demise of these guys, especially after the way they have treated the people of Fiji with total disdain and disrespect.