THE Commission of Inquiry (COI) has formally requested an urgent meeting with Prime Minister Sitiveni Rabuka to discuss concerns regarding the appointment of FICAC Commissioner Barbara Malimali.
Counsel assisting the inquiry Janet Mason confirmed an email was sent to the Prime Minister yesterday although they are still awaiting confirmation for a meeting time.
“We’ve requested a meeting with the Prime Minister tomorrow,” Ms Mason said.
“This meeting with the Prime Minister will be discussing the issue with the COI. But mainly her appointment process.
“I’m not at liberty to tell you exactly what the issue with that is until after the meeting.”
Ms Mason also addressed the email sent by Ms Malimali, in which she raised concerns about former FICAC investigations manager Kuliniasi Saumi being granted access to FICAC files.
Ms Mason said she had previously sought assurances from Acting Deputy Commissioner Lisiate Fotofili regarding witness safety and that those assurances were now being reviewed in light of Ms Malimali’s email.
“What we worried about yesterday was if Ms Malimali is coming in over the top of assurances that he’s given to us, that she would overturn those,” Ms Mason said.
She confirmed that the COI has yet to respond to Ms Malimali’s email but would forward it to Mr Fotofili for further clarification.
Responding to public concerns about whether the COI has remained within its terms of reference, Ms Mason said that the inquiry has been operating within its mandated scope.
She noted that one of the terms of reference was to investigate whether individuals with vested interests — including Members of Parliament and senior civil servants with cases before FICAC — have influenced the commission’s work.
“That question is raised quite a lot, but we’re very conscious about that, and the commission has always worked within the terms of its scope,” Ms Mason said.
The inquiry is expected to conclude next Monday, with Chief Registrar Tomasi Bainivalu scheduled to appear.
The COI recalled Chief Justice Salesi Temo for further questioning yesterday, while FICAC witnesses have completed their testimonies.
The CoI will not sit today as Mr Bainivalu is currently out of the country.
