Not content with debasing the entire criminal justice system, the Acting Chief Justice and head of the Judicial Services Commission, Salesi Temo, now wants to debase the standards of conduct of members of the legal profession.
The increasingly erratic Justice Temo says the Legal Practitioners Act is unnecessarily punitive, “is very much against lawyers” and he wants the government to make changes to the Act to make it more lenient. “Previously the Legal Practitioners Unit was very strict on lawyers. I’ve advised them to go easy”, the man in the horse-hair wig pronounces.
Temo reveals that he has told the Chief Registrar, Tomasi Bainivalu, to prosecute lawyers only as a last option and in the most serious cases. Which explains a great deal about the Acting CJ’s own approach to standards in the criminal justice system, which have fallen to an unprecedented low under his leadership.
We have never had a more woeful head of the judiciary in the entire sweep of Fijian legal history. This includes appointing Tomasi Bainivalu Chief Registrar and Secretary of the JSC after Bainivalu had been convicted of drink driving. Yet Temo has chalked up a string of outrages since he was handpicked by the Coalition to fill the position of CJ in an acting capacity in January 2023.
1/ His Lordship defied the Constitution and appointed John Rabuku Acting DPP only to have that appointment reversed by three Supreme Court Judges because Rabuku was guilty of professional misconduct. Temo has since sanctioned the appointment of Rabuku as Deputy DPP when his record of misconduct stands, bringing the State’s prosecution service into further disrepute.
2/ He unlawfully threatened to refer the Resident Magistrate, Seini Puamau, to the police when he angrily overturned her verdict against Frank Bainimarama and Sitiveni Qiliho and sent them to prison. Threatening a judicial officer is specifically prohibited under the Constitution but Temo has repeatedly thumbed his nose at the supreme law.
3/ He has humiliated the Prime Minister by ignoring his admonition to restore the DPP Christopher Pryde’s salary while Pryde fights the allegation of misbehaviour against him. And he has embarrassed the President, Ratu Wiliame Katonivere, by obliging him to announce successive deadlines for the conclusion of the tribunal case against Pryde that Temo knows cannot be met because he and his underlings are dragging their feet.
4/ and in his most recent outrage, he appointed the scandal-prone Barbara Malimali to be Commissioner of FICAC knowing that she was being investigated by the corruption watchdog, triggering the current furore over events which even the Prime Minister describes as “rotten” and wants investigated.
Now Temo wants to debase the legal profession by lowering current standards of conduct, presumably to bring them into line with the woeful standards he has set by unconstitutionally appointing senior officers of state who have been found guilty of professional misconduct by the Independent Legal Services Commission.
Salesi Temo is not only an oaf but a clear and present danger to the rule of law in Fiji. The Prime Minister, Sitiveni Rabuka, has given an undertaking to the nation’s lawyers in private practice who are members of the Fiji Law Society that Temo will not be appointed to the substantive position of chief justice. But that was almost a year ago and still the Acting CJ clings to the wreckage he has created all around him.
Grubsheet understands the Prime Minister and senior ministers have now come to the view that Temo is “out of control”. It is more than three months since Rabuka made front page news by saying that the JSC should not have suspended Christopher Pryde’s salary and deprived him of his ability to adequately fight the allegation against him.
That opinion has evidently been conveyed to the Acting CJ on multiple occasions but still Pryde’s salary is being unlawfully withheld. And the conclusion of his judicial tribunal hearing has now been pushed back to the end of the year because the State refuses to finalise its case and provide Pryde with the complete evidence against him.
This farce has gone on long enough. What’s changed is that this is no longer just Grubsheet’s opinion but opinion at the highest levels of government. Salesi Temo is increasingly, by consensus, a rogue and an outlaw who thinks that the nation’s supreme law doesn’t apply to him. So he must go and go as quickly as possible.
Grubsheet has no way of confirming the latest rumours that Imrana Jalal, the human rights lawyer and Asian Development Bank staffer, is being lined up to replace Salesi Temo in the substantive position of chief justice. But virtually any senior member of the profession would be better than this clown, who is demonstrably unfit for the position and confirms it every time he opens his mouth.
As well as telling the latest batch of new lawyers that the laws that govern their conduct are too harsh, the Acting CJ imparted the following advice about how to get on in the profession.
The man is stark, raving mad. And the sooner he is reduced to playing Santa Claus at MHCC the better off the nation will be. Except our children, of course.
Here’s a genuinely astonishing story in today’s Fiji Times.
Three months on and the Prime Minister remains severely embarrassed as Salesi Temo continues to deprive Christopher Pryde of his salary. It is reportedly the final straw.
Barely fit to play Santa Claus.
Though that’s better. Now what do I want for Christmas?
How about a proper, functioning criminal justice system? Please!
And finally, let’s just remind ourselves of what Francis Puleiwai says Tomasi Bainivalu, the Chief Registrar, quoted the Acting CJ as having relayed to her on the day Salesi Temo foisted Barbara Malimali on FICAC, which was in the process of investigating Malmali for alleged abuse of office as Chair of the Electoral Commission.
The bloke is either mentally unstable or knows nothing about the law. Either way, he’s gotta be stopped.
Whoever is replacing this government in the next election has a hell of a job turfing out arse-clowns like Temo and all the other shady characters this government has been giving jobs to.
The only reason he wants the LPU to relax is because he knows the rot he’s exposed the judiciary to will catch up with him when a new government comes in.
(NOTE: Edited for legal reasons)
Imrana Jalal, that champion of women’s rights, has already started packing her stuff in Manila for the move back to Fiji. Obviously strings are being pulled behind the scenes to get her back for the review of the Constitution so that same sex marriage can be put back into the Constitution. Graham Leong is showing his true colors. I know Lynda will be delighted.
Salesi Temo, apart from lacking the judicial temperament, is probably the most under qualified (Acting) Chief Justice in the history of Fiji’s judiciary.
The only qualification he has, to be in that position right now is his ethno-nationalistic tendency to advance the Coalition’s agenda.
As we have repeatedly stated, Rabuka is a liar and his response to reinstate Pryde’s salary is purely rhetoric to look like that he is providing a sensible justification to please the diplomatic community and the centrist voters in Fiji.
Rabuka and Temo are cut from the same cloth, and I feel for those that think otherwise!
Apart from reading his opinion and judgement from the cases he had presided over, there really is very little available (probably there isn’t any at all!) on any official papers/documents that he had presented on any major national or international legal conferences regarding the judicial system, constitution of Fiji and others let alone writing a book, that past Chief Justices have under their name.
Salesi Temo is someone who has spent more than half of his legal profession presiding over cases in the lowest court in Fiji, the Magistrate Court, and recently (just over ten years) in the High Court.
The role of CJ is well and above his skills set and he is the most under qualified CJ in the history of Fiji and currently the most under qualified CJ in the Pacific right now.
GD. Salesi Temo is a buffoonish thug who still thinks he’s a bouncer at a nightclub in nz. He was a bouncer during his student days and was so violent that he ended up bashing to death a nightclub patron. The thug markings are still on his hands…”love” and “hate” tattooed on his knuckles like any regular suva criminal thug from the 70’s. It’s sad and funny at the same time seeing him dispense his brand of justice with markings and ill manners of a proper street hoodlum from back lanes of suva. This man is a disgrace.
But once again, pls don’t make it a habit of being fooled repeatedly….rabuka picked him, rabuka wants him to remain as the CJ and rabuka knows and approves of everything that the low IQ thug does. You see rabuka doesn’t give shit about what happens to the country…never has…as long as he gets what wants that he’s conjured up in his insane racist mind then all is good. He has found a similar hair brained racist prick to help him along the way. Temo and rabuka are very similar…rabid racists and insane to boot. Come on…think about it…temo has done so much damage to the govt and u think rabaku can’t get rid of him?…or won’t? The viper knows and controls everything and all his racist pygmy vipers follow his every command and regularly advise him on evil shit they know he will like and approve.
Temo will remain for the foreseeable future and continue to f**k up fiji with rabaka’s blessings cos they are both mad as cut snakes.
I really don’t know how you and countless other couldn’t see all this and fell for the world’s longest con that started in 1987…despite our history riddled with the conspicuous evil con for the last almost 4 decades.
Anyway…I digress. But pls also note that Imrana “i don’t use Patricia any more” Jalal is bereft of any practical experience for the top bench job. She is part of Graham leung’s gang with Jon apted etc etc and they will all help each get jobs and favours and have roaring weekend drinks get together to celebrate all their little selfish achievements at the expense of a fast sinking country.
BTW…the standard of temo “the thugs” English is absolutely appalling. I’m sure all the new lawyers giggled themselves silly as the incoherent violent buffoon tried to give them stupid advise for the future disillusioned lawmakers of our f***ed up country.
Where did this guy get his law degree? Metropole Hotel Bar lucky dip prize draw!
I couldn’t believe my eyes when I read Temo’s remarks to the young lawyers.
Rather than talk about the need for the profession to up its acts, raise standards, ensure ethics and fairness, the acting CJ is encouraging the lawyers to be cynical of the law. He will, in his position, go easy on any alleged breaches. Wink, wink…..
What sort of message is he sending and what standards is he setting?
Maybe this would be music to the ears of the lawyers and their associations, especially the rumored iTaukei based one.
We also read in the Fiji Times (Page 7) today that Justice Bulamainaivalu, rather than reprimanding a lawyer who has not been turning up to defend his client, tells the defendant to ‘grab his hand and bring him here’. Given that the person has paid this lawyer who has not even been answering his client’s calls, this is an extraordinary statement to make.
Is this sort of sentiment now flowing from the top?
Lawyers who seemed to have been above the law, as evidenced in the number of such cases including misuse of trust funds, now can run riot and continue to cheat their vulnerable clients.
Aren’t there regulatory authorities and laws like the Legal Practitioners code of conduct to guide the work of arguably the richest profession who seem to have impunity, under the Coalition, over how they charge customers and perform on their behalf?
Justice Bulamainaivalu said of a recalcitrant lawyer who did not turn up to his court a number of times to “grab his hand and bring him here”. I guess it is the iTaukei way of doing things instead of reprimanding him. So the standards of the Acting CJ are already being practiced.
Just imagine if the lawyer was not an iTaukei what the attitude of the judge would be?
Just speculating, but we all can see where things are headed.
With focus shifting to the next election heads will need to roll so that Rabuka looks squeaky clean. He’s ensured only people willing to push his agenda are put in these positions. But any of these people are dispensible if he needs to rid them to save his own skin. “eh sorry, we’ve made mistakes and have learned now. We are good now.”
Nobody can or will do anything to Rabuka and this clown Temo. The entire system is fully corrupt. Another clean- up campaign required but given the military is sold out to Rabuka/Temo/Biman/Pio, nothing will be done. It was a good change for the foolish people of Fiji and particularly the Fijians of Indian origin who betrayed Bainimarama due to hatred against Muslims to bring down Khaiyum (who was indeed observing the growing dissatisfaction among Indian and Native communities but did not act to stop his appointments to so called Muslims or family to top job). Has he understood or had Bainimarama understood this growing concerning people today we won’t be in this deep shit.
Fiji is doomed and back to 1987 days – nobody can or will rise again that Bainimarama did. Very soon the constitution will be changed for ethno-racial favours to remove rights of Indians or others so that thugs continue to rule. Thanks to those who pushed for change.
The guy is an iTaukei and proud in his own country. So different standards apply and he is proud to lower the standards even more. The guy is a racist buffoon.
That is something we vulagis seem to forget in our criticisms.
What I do not understand is why has he been Acting for almost 2 years? The COMPOL has been Acting for that long as well. I am sure there are many others.
The whole thing is fcuked up and has now become normal.
Our country is never short of lawyers. May the incoming graduates practice what they were taught in the classroom: obey the rule of law, do no harm and trust the process.
lol @ Hope in the future graduates saying “incoming graduates practice what they were taught in the classroom.” Did you know that Tabuya, Malimali and Nancy Tikoisuva once taught at USP Law School in the recent months and years? Vosarogo used to be invited by Malimali as guest lecturer.
So, these graduates and upcoming law students were taught by these blerry corrupted lawyers at some stage!
USP should be ashamed of its current and recent law graduates!
One of a country’s measurement on the world stage with other countries, investors, business people and potential immigrants is its legal system.
A legal system that favours some over others, ignores the rule of law and its country’s Constitution and seeks to lower standards of legal practice and accountability will soon attract criticism and a reluctance to invest, visit or operate in.
The antics of the A/CJ and his inept Judicial Services Commission are becoming well known, not only in Fiji but in the Pacific area. The latest round of utterance by the A/CJ is a further nail in his coffin but also the standards of the practice of law in Fiji.
Robust legal systems demand excellence in the practice of law not mediocrity!
Any attempt at lowering the threshold of accountability and penalty for a failure to observe standards is legal death. It will see a proliferation of carpetbagger lawyers and with it a second rate judicial system.
As for Rabuka, the leader you have when you don’t have leadership, nothing will change! He and this shambles of a Government are too busy with ‘other things’ and the A/CJ is beyond their intellectual capacity to deal with!
Isa Fiji, the legal fraternity is a casualty of this corrupt and inept government. Fiji has a PM in name and title only. Rabuka gives some real dumb answers, like, “check your constitution”. What an idiot! Idiot as a PM? Idiot as ACJ. And the dribble continues down the line. No hope for Fiji as long as these idiots are in charge. The opposite has come true for these idiots. The monkeys have paid themselves more than peanuts
Doesn’t deserve lordship title by his actions
In the last 2 weeks, the Minister for Trade and Commerce and DPM has been traversing the east coast of Australia Canberra/Brisbane/Sydney trying to find desperately needed investment for Fiji.
No genuine investor of sound mind will be interested in spending a dime of their money in a state where one of the arms of government – the judiciary has gone rogue.
This person has to go if Fiji wants to attract genuine investment. His removal will go a long way in restoring some credibility in the judiciary. And we sincerely hope that his replacement will correct all the major f’ups in the last 2 years.
Even a lot of the diaspora that were planning on returning or investing in Fiji are now very disillusioned.
Santa has to go.
Worse is yet to come, hopefully the new political party resets Fiji’s direction. Always praying! Yes, something like a United Fiji Alliance UFA for the new generation and clean slate of futuristic leaders to take Fiji forward in 21st century.
Words to characterise/summarise the current leadership…
R – Ruthless (Showing no compassion, especially toward those opposed to him)
A – Authoritarian (Favoring strict obedience at the expense of personal freedom or democratic processes)
B – Bigoted (Intolerant toward those with different opinions or backgrounds)
U – Unlawful (Having no regard for the rule of law or justice)
K – Kleptocratic (Interested in exploiting resources for personal and cronies’ gain)
A – Aggressive (Bullying, pushing an extreme agenda, with little respect for others)
…and this will go down in history for the wrong reasons, never forgotten nor forgiven!
Let’s be real. This monkey was handpicked to lead the Judiciary to enable the clowns currently running the country to get away with whatever they want. So all the talk about him being replaced will never happen. It’s wishful thinking that Imrana “with indentity issues” Patricia Jalal will be appointed CJ. No kaindia will ever become CJ, PM, or President as long as these racist SWINES are in power. So get real and stop dreaming.
These idiots have no idea the damage they have caused. The earliest appointment for a Fiji passport application/interview, in the Suva, Lautoka, and other major centres is 2030. Savusavu has a few earlier slots still available. People have realised that Fiji has gone to the dogs and are fleeing in droves. Does Rabuka and his cronies realise this?
This is the government that the people wanted so be it. No amount of kakase in this column will change shit.
Er, more people voted for FijiFirst at the last election than any other party. So what’s your answer to that, Shit-for-brains?
Yep, GD, sometimes the hard call has to be made for certain brain fades. 😆
If we don’t already know, or are aware of, This mob has a single vote majority. All it will take is for Tart Bonking Tabuya or bum spanking Radrodro to get the huffs, and that majority is history.
Excerpt from todays Fiji Sun edition, Rabuka states:
Quote
I could sense this fear among the Indo-Fijian electorate. Perhaps I should introduce myself again—I am Sitiveni Ligamamada Rabuka, whose favourite dish is dhal and rice.”
Mr Rabuka said Mr Prasad would not have signed a Memorandum of Understanding for a post-election coalition government if both he and the NFP didn’t trust him.
“I want to, once and for all, put an end to fear and doubts about my sincerity as a national leader, particularly to the Indo-Fijian community,” he said.
“Trust me when I say we are rebuilding Fiji’s future together, united as a three-party coalition government. End of quote
1. Snake- appropriate title
2. Trust- never again. Why? See above.
3. 2026 elections- You are truly deluded if you think your bunch of crooks will get any votes.
4. Truth – I challenge you to tell the whole truth, and nothing but the truth, about your involvement in the 2000 mutiny at the RFMF. Come on, are you a man of integrity and sincerity?
Rabuka, until you tell the truth, quit making false statements that designed to deceive the people. We are not stupid.
Why Fiji Deserves Better: What Good Governance Demands From a Chief Justice — And Why Salesi Temo Must Go
At the heart of any functioning democracy stands the judiciary — an institution that must be above politics, immune to corruption, and resolutely anchored in the rule of law. At its apex sits the Chief Justice, whose example should inspire trust in the entire system. Yet today, in Fiji, the judiciary is in crisis — and the source of that crisis is none other than the man now occupying the position of Acting Chief Justice: Salesi Temo.
Under his watch, we are witnessing a sustained assault on the rule of law and a grotesque erosion of public confidence in the justice system. Far from embodying the principles of good governance, Temo is modeling the very opposite — and doing so brazenly.
Good governance at the head of the judiciary demands integrity, constitutional fidelity, independence, transparency, competence, and moral courage. Let us be clear: Salesi Temo has failed on every count.
A Chief Justice must uphold the Constitution without fear or favor. Yet Temo openly defies it — most egregiously in the handling of the case of Director of Public Prosecutions Christopher Pryde. Despite the Prime Minister himself admonishing the Judicial Services Commission for unlawfully suspending Pryde’s salary, Temo continues to withhold it in flagrant violation of due process and natural justice. This is not merely administrative foot-dragging — it is a weaponization of judicial office to punish a professional reputation, deny a man his livelihood, and tilt the scales of justice. Such conduct is unworthy of any judge, let alone the Chief Justice.
A Chief Justice must also protect judicial independence, not undermine it. Yet Temo has unlawfully threatened a sitting magistrate, Seini Puamau, for delivering a verdict he disliked — an outrageous intimidation of a fellow judicial officer, prohibited under the very Constitution he swore to uphold.
A Chief Justice must insist upon the highest ethical standards in legal appointments. Temo, instead, surrounds himself with disgraced figures, from unlawfully appointing a convicted drink-driver as Chief Registrar, to sanctioning scandal-plagued appointments in the prosecutorial and anti-corruption services. His recent push to lower professional standards for lawyers further exposes his disdain for accountability.
A Chief Justice must exhibit judicial temperament — dignity, restraint, and fairness. Temo’s behavior, by contrast, has become erratic, arrogant, and politically reckless. His contempt for constitutional norms and his overt politicization of the judiciary now threaten to poison the entire justice system.
Most damning of all is Temo’s betrayal of public trust. The people of Fiji deserve a judiciary they can believe in — a place where justice is blind, where the law speaks louder than political alliances or personal vendettas. Under Temo’s leadership, that trust is being shredded.
Salesi Temo has shown, time and again, that he is unfit to serve as Chief Justice in any capacity. His continued tenure is not merely a professional embarrassment — it is a clear and present danger to the rule of law in Fiji. The political leadership must now act — not with whispered assurances but with decisive, public resolve — to remove him and restore integrity to the judiciary.
Fiji stands at a crossroads: will it choose a path of good governance, constitutional fidelity, and restored public trust — or will it allow the rot to deepen? The choice must be clear. Salesi Temo must go.
Quite right. For the record, Salesi Temo severed Christopher Pryde’s salary for eight months unlawfully until it was restored by Presidential order in January. He has since been paid the arrears but no thanks to the Chief Justice.