A recording played in court yesterday laid bare Acting Fiji Independent Commission Against Corruption Commissioner Lavi Rokoika’s criticism of the Judicial Services Commission (JSC), who she called “grog swipers” who “don’t do anything good”.
The audio, captured during a 2025 interview with Mai TV reporter Lavenia Lativerata, was submitted as evidence in the High Court during the hearing of two high-profile applications for permanent stay of FICAC prosecutions.
The legal challenges, brought by former Deputy Prime Ministers Manoa Kamikamica and Professor Biman Prasad, question the legality of Ms Rokoika’s appointment.
In the recording — a candid exchange conducted largely in iTaukei — Ms Rokoika is heard dismissively rejecting the JSC’s authority.
“I don’t recognise them because they did not appoint me. The President appointed me,” she told Ms Lativerata, according to the recording.
Ms Rokoika’s “off the record” remarks also took aim at the JSC’s work ethic, stating, “I hate to deal with the JSC … they are a bunch of grog swipers”.
Ms Rokoika further claimed the Prime Minister intervened because the JSC “wasn’t acting”.
While she acknowledged Chief Justice Salesi Temo as the “head boy” of lawyers, she said she was not subject to the JSC’s oversight.
