THE Fiji Independent Commission Against Corruption has remained silent on The Fiji Times questions sent to it about its January 13 letter clearing the Fiji Sports Council CEO, Gilbert Vakalalabure, of complaints of abuse of office.
FICAC Commissioner Lavi Rokoika is Mr Vakalalabure’s sister-in-law.
The letter, signed by Ms Rokoika and addressed to Minister for Youth and Sports Jese Saukuru, said that “the criminal threshold for corruption offences” had not been met in relation to the allegations.
“I also formally declared and managed a conflict of interest,” Ms Rokoika wrote in the letter.
After the letter was circulated on social media earlier this week The Fiji Times submitted detailed questions to FICAC asking it to clarity several aspects of the decision.
Ms Rokoika was asked to explain what the conflict of interest was, how she declared and how she managed it.
She was also asked to explain her statement that no Fiji Sports Council “delegation instruments” or “governance documents” were disclosed that defined the specific limits of the CEO’s authority and whether this meant that the CEO could act as he wished.
The Fiji Times also asked about allegations involving FSC-provided business class travel air fares to New Zealand for Minister for Youth and Sports Jese Saukuru and his wife.
Neither Ms Rokoika nor FICAC responded to these queries.
The Fiji Times also asked whether FICAC considered relevant provisions of the Prevention of Bribery Act (POBA) to ascertain any wrongdoing and whether the transactions in favour of the minister were approved by the FSC board.
