Barbara Malimali‘s reputation as been shredded by the Ashton-Lewis Commission of Inquiry, so much so that in any other country, she would not only be barred from ever holding public office again but would lose her practicing certificate as a lawyer.
Malimali emerges not only as a shameless law breaker but a thoroughly unpleasant person who actually complained to the Judge about the temerity of foreigners questioning an iTaukei woman. As if that provides some immunity against wrongdoing.
There is a nasty racist tinge to Malimali’s conduct that coupled with an appalling sense of self-entitlement, has destroyed any respect she might have had in the wider community and has shamed her in the eyes of many iTaukei.
That self entitlement extends to Malimali expecting the taxpayer to pick up a $100,000 plus tab for her lawyer, Tanya Waqanika, when the DPP, Christopher Pryde, was obliged to pay all his defence bills from his own pocket when he was suspended and subsequently cleared of misbehaviour. Those costs have not been reimbursed.
Pryde’s “crime” was to be seen in the company of Aiyaz Sayed-Khaiyum and receive superannuation payments to which it was demonstrated he was entitled. Whereas Barbara Malimali stands accused of a string of serious offences that could eventually see her behind bars.
Chapter Four of the COI Report examines the abortive FICAC investigation into Barbara Malimali and the prelude to her being parachuted into the corruption watchdog to replace Francis Puleiwai and shut down investigations into a brace of Coalition ministers. But first, let’s remind ourselves of the possible charges she faces detailed in Chapter Seven and the COI’s recommendations in Chapter Eight of what should happen next.
And now Chapter 4 of the COI Report. The Malimali Investigation in detail.
More to come in Chapter 5 soon.
According to the COI report revealed by Fiji Leaks today, it was actually BM and Waqaniika who first invoked their indigenous identity—objecting to being questioned by foreigners, or “Kai tani.” This is a crucial detail that changes the context of the discussion.
Let’s also remember that all parties involved—BM, Waqaniika, and Janet Masons—share similar backgrounds. They are all Kai Loma, with both indigenous and European ancestry. To frame this as one group using indigeneity against another ignores the shared heritage and complex identities of everyone involved.
Reducing this discussion to a contest of “who is more indigenous” or using heritage as a weapon distracts from the real issues.
You claim BM and Waqanika are ‘kai loma’.
Prove it please. Otherwise shut the F**k UP !
I didn’t claim my indigeneity, they did, so I challenge them to reveal their DNA test. Both will fail miserably. Fiji is a small world, and one cannot hide. The truth will be shouted fm the roof tops. BM’s biological father is non indigenous. And Tanya should be proud of her European side from her grandmother from Ra, everyone knows this except you, and the two women who choose to make out what they are really not.
The trouble with Fiji is too many Kai Viti are hiding behind their indigineity when in actual fact they are Kai Loma.
Barbara & Waqanika are both Vulagi ?
WTF are they doing in Fiji with God’s chosen People ?
Please spare further SHAME & F*#k Off to your country, Lako !!
Thank you for sharing these chapters…reading it is entertaining because nothing is surprising. Similar things were happening in 1990s where one had to bribe a minister and senior civil servants to actually be gazetted for a position they won on merit during selection.
For avid novel readers, the transcripts from the hearings very much feels like reading a novel from ‘the no 1 ladies detective agency ‘ series by Alexander McCall Smith. 😀
With Tania Waqanika by her side BM did not stand a chance. Her case was bound to fail.
Tania is the embodiment of mediocrity in our legal field. She is well known for invoking indigeneity to cover her incompetence. Her sense of entitlement is mind boggling.
She and BM are so alike. They deserve each other.
So many rotten potatoes in our legal fraternity.
The COI was having none of their garbage:
The callous, calculated and self-serving invocation of indigeneity “distorted the genuine cause of indigenous rights by weaponising it against transparency, legality, and scrutiny. In doing so, it sent a dangerous message: that indigenous identity could somehow be used to exempt public officials from the rule of law or to discredit independent legal oversight.”
Die in shame, Tanya.
Proud Kai Feejee’s observation that BM and Waqanika objected to being questioned by foreigners makes one wonder if, in Shakespeare’s words, “The lady doth protest too much, methinks.”
Why is it so important to invoke their indigenous identity?
It seems a classic case of weaponising heritage or race as a distraction from the actual issues.
But how delicious is the thought that they are in fact of mixed race. Kai Loma has been suggested, but could Indian heritage be another possibility? There are many cases of this in the northern parts of Viti Levu.
Unfortunately, as much as this hurts to be written, its the usual story of Fijians falling back on the excuse of “I am being victimised because I am an oppressed Fijian and entitled to anything without working for it.”
It is unfortunate that Malimali, Waqanika and people of that ilk use these as their baseline to get what they want.
If this COI has exposed anything, it has shown the indigenous card has been played to allow systemic corruption, nepotism and illicit actions to take place with the PM and the President both lifting their sulu’s, covering their faces and looking away, while one hand also participates in the shenanigans.
As usual, complete silence from the government.
Someone needs to follow up with LPU and ILSC on the action they will take against the lawyers mentioned in this report. These lawyers should be investigated formally by the bodies that investigate lawyers.
The head of the LPU is Bainivalu, the convicted drunkard and another one who is named in the COI report. So, the whole system is f**ked.
Hi GD,
What a mess!
All those named individuals (from the Chief Justice, Solicitor-General, FICAC Commissioner, Chief Registrar et al) have used their unfettered powers, in their cubby hole “fiefdom empires”, acted as though untouchables. Power corrupts aboslutely – and to have absolute control and unchecked powers, and then using it for their own benefit rather than for good of the Offices’ they held is tantamount to treason.
Seriously, the gov’t of Fiji needs to bring in independent, neutral legal personnel from overseas to clean out the rotten apples. The starting point would be the Chief Justice, the Chief Registrar and the Solicitor-General. The Chief Registrar (who is the legal gov’t supremo) has tarnished the reputation and standing of that erstwile legal jurisprudence of Fiji because he has been criticised in the CoI’s findings. So is Mr Clarke, the President of Fiji’s legal professional body.
Meantime, I am surprised that the Opposition MPs in Parliament remain silent, whilst GD seems to be doing their work for them by informing the rest of us what the hell is going on!
Oh boy. This would make for an excellent Netflix series lol. Can’t wait for the next episode!
Wonder why the SG hasn’t been fired yet… should have been shown the door together with the AG.
How incompetent are these lot. It is not only laughable but also scary.
But one thing is certain that the Dunning Crugger effect is well at play here. These guys are so incompetent that they even dont know how incompetent they are. That leaves them not only with zero integrity and no shame at all.
Most of these people wouldn’t be hired as a receptionist or a simple clark if they weren’t indigenous or related to corrupt politicians.
With this breaking news all over social media and internet, guess who is MISSING IN ACTION?
Vijay DUMB Narayan, Stanley SHIT Simpson, Fiji TOILET PAPER Times and few others including Richard FIJI WATER Naidu.
Such shameless bastards!
When the Fijian Government advertises jobs within the DPP’s office or with the government’s legal network they should say that extra points are awarded to those who have been guilty of corruption in the past.
Also unethical practices are desirable. Also candidates should be well trained to play dumb when questioned or accused of wrongdoing.
What the actual f**k?
Fiji is drowning in corruption of the CHANGE coalition and common, honest, hard working Fijians can only watch and wonder.
Why haven’t Fiji lawyers mobilized to stage a public, peaceful protest, such as a march to demand the resignation of their compromised CJ?!
See how the PNG lawyers marched publicly in their black & white penguin-attire for the rule of law just a few weeks ago in April! https://www.postcourier.com.pg/lawyers-march-for-justice/
Pakistani lawyers have done the same many moons ago.
And Fiji lawyers?? Nah, they’d rather whinge, whine, gossip, teketeke and bleat on fb and blogs, OR resort to red herrings such as obsessing over the century old feud between Israel and the surrounding Muslim countries which will never end.. Yes, it’s anything but doing the needful. Phew!🙄😁
Just read an article in the Fiji Times on “alleged leak of COI reports”.
The hypocrisy stinks like shit from a constipated person.
Maybe the Fiji Times can ask their long term avid hypocrites like Richard Naidu and Wadan Narsey to give an opinion on the matter.