COMMISSION of Inquiry (COI) senior counsel Janet Mason says the COI is “not exactly happy” with Fiji Independent Commission Against Corruption (FICAC) Commissioner Barbara Malimali taking leave from her post, saying it would have preferred that she be suspended.

Yesterday, the Judicial Services Commission (JSC) confirmed Ms Malimali had taken leave at the request of JSC chairperson Chief Justice Salesi Temo.

“We had asked for her to be suspended and so this is not quite the suspension that we thought would happen,” Ms Mason told this newspaper yesterday.

“So, we’re just not exactly happy with it because we had preferred a suspension because it means no meddling at all — so she’s on leave and not in the office, someone is there and that suits our purposes for the moment so we can proceed.”

Ms Mason said the COI had written to the newly-appointed FICAC acting deputy commissioner, Lisiate Fotofili, and asked for reassurance that the FICAC witnesses would have access to the documents they needed to give evidence to the COI.

“(That) the documents and evidence they provide us will not be vetted and also that there will be no negative consequences to their employment.

“It’s been disappointing in terms of how long a simple thing (can take) like recognising how people should not be there who can interfere with witnesses.

“It’s taken these four months to get that done and that’s been frustrating and of course, everybody’s talked about the cost of the KC (King’s Counsel) opinion and if we didn’t get the KC’s opinion, we wouldn’t have got these steps taken.

“We’re looking forward to ending the hearing part and getting on with the reporting.” Meanwhile, Ms Malimali is expected to appear before the COI today.