The Public Services Disciplinary Tribunal has ordered the reinstatement of the former assistant principal of Queen Victoria School, Ifereimi Waqamailau.
It also ordered the restoration of all his employment benefits, rights and privileged and to expunge his suspension and disciplinary offences from his employment records.
The Ministry of Education had charged Mr Waqamailau for misconduct in November 2020 after he was cited for inflicting corporal punishment on four students by rubbing chilies on their private parts as a form of punishment.
Tribunal members Justice Anare Tuilevuka, Justice Samuela Qica and Justice Senileba Levaci said the charge was “rather poorly drafted”.
“Ideally, the charges should have specified the exact nature of Mr Waqalaulau’s alleged involvement in the incident in questions.
Regrettably, this was not the case.
“Because of the manner in which the charge was drafted, the tribunal finds that the ministry has failed to establish a case against Mr Waqamailau on the balance of probabilities.
“We do hope that the ministry will take appropriate action to safeguard Mr Waqamailau from exposure to any negative repercussions on his professional reputation resulting from these proceedings.”
