The political fallout from the Commission of Inquiry into Barbara Malimali’s appointment as FICAC Commissioner is far from over, with Prime Minister Sitiveni Rabuka signalling that Cabinet ministers implicated in the report could still face disciplinary action.
Speaking to The Fiji Times after yesterday’s Cabinet meeting, Mr Rabuka said the future of certain ministers would depend on the outcome of further investigations sparked by the inquiry’s findings.
While the Prime Minister played down any immediate consequences, he made it clear that accountability would follow due process.
“Being implicated and being charged are different,” he said, when asked about Cabinet ministers named in the report.
Mr Rabuka also addressed the letter from the RFMF Commander Major General Ro Jone Kalouniwai, revealing he discussed it with the Minister for Defence and Veteran Affairs Pio Tikoduadua.
“It depends on the outcomes of subsequent investigations on the findings/recommendations of the CoI,” he said, when asked if some Cabinet ministers could lose their portfolios.
Pressed further, Mr Rabuka confirmed the possibility of additional disciplinary measures.
“Not until disciplinary action is mandated by law or conventions after subsequent investigations resulting from the CoI are done.”
Asked whether he had discussed the matter with his deputy prime ministers, Manoa Kamikamica and Professor Biman Prasad, Mr Rabuka replied: “No, being implicated and being charged are different.”
He denied that a postponed meeting with his deputies had anything to do with the report.
“No, I don’t know the agenda. They asked for it,” he said, explaining: “Cabinet took longer, and I had to ask the DPMs to defer our ‘after Cabinet meeting’ to Thursday because I have a meeting in Denarau this afternoon (yesterday), and I’m running late now.”
Mr Rabuka also addressed the letter from the RFMF Commander Major General Ro Jone Kalouniwai concerning the COI report.
“Hon Tikoduadua asked for an appointment yesterday afternoon to explain that the Commander, RFMF’s letter to him had been leaked to you (The Fiji Times) before he discussed it with me nor with the Commander,” he said.
