ACTING Fiji Corrections Service Commissioner Auta Moceisuva says he advised former Corrections Commissioner Jalesi Nakarawa against hiring his wife, warning the move would create ethical concerns and perceptions of nepotism.
Speaking during an interview with The Fiji Times online portal The Lens@177, Mr Moceisuva said he had made his position clear at the time but the final decision rested with the commissioner.
“Yes, I was the Deputy Commissioner then,” he said.
“I told him that it would be inappropriate to hire a close member of his family for ethical reasons.
“Hiring somebody close to you, obviously there will be some tainted information, or people will associate it with nepotism, given that you are favouring someone that is close in your family.
“I advised him that, but because he was the boss at that time, he did not take heed of the advice and went ahead with that decision.”
When asked whether his conscience was clear over the matter, Mr Moceisuva said he had fulfilled his responsibility as the organisation’s senior adviser.
“I think I have done my job as an advisor, being the most senior officer at that time. So, the final decision was his.”
