Former Executive Secretary of the Electoral Commission of Fiji (ECF), Sefanaia Tudonu testified that the audio recording of meeting was paused at Chairperson Barbaba Malimali’s request when discussion turned to complaints involving two politicians.
This is stated in the Commission of Inquiry report that was released on Tuesday.
Mr. Tudonu testified that during the April 2 2024 ECF meeting, concerns were raised about the Acting SoE referring complaints to FICAC without consulting the ECF.
He stated that Ms. Malimali unilaterally amended a letter recommending Mr. Graham Leung for the position of SoE, without input from the other ECF Commissioners.
He testified these changes included alternative recommendations not discussed or approved in prior ECF meetings.
“He confirmed that the audio recording of that meeting was paused at Ms. Malimali’s request when discussion turned to complaints involving Hon. Prasad and Hon. Tabuya,” the CoI report quotes Mr Tudonu as testifying.
“The recording was not resumed, and the rest of the meeting was not documented.”
“Mr. Tudonu delivered the signed and amended letter to the COC Secretariat, which is the S-G’s office, on 3 April 2024. Within an hour, he was informed by Ms. Forwood that the contents had been leaked on SM (social media).”
“After the leak, the ECF Commissioners requested to see the letter, but Ms. Malimali did not to provide it.”
“The ECF Commissioners instead pressured Mr. Tudonu, who stated he could not release it without the Chairperson’s approval.”
“Eventually, under pressure, the April 2 Malimali Letter was released approximately a week later, after Ms. Malimali provided belated approval. By then, the ECF Commissioners had created a separate Viber group excluding both the SoE and Mr. Tudonu.”
