NewzIntel.com

Category: Anti-corruption

  • MIL-Evening Report: Fiji govt offers NZ$1.5m settlement to former anti-corruption head for ruined career

    By Margot Staunton, RNZ Pacific senior reporter

    The Fiji government looks set to pay around NZ$1.5 million in damages to the disgraced former head of the country’s anti-corruption agency FICAC.

    The state is offering Barbara Malimali an out-of-court settlement after her lawyer lodged a judicial review of her sacking in the High Court in Suva.

    Prime Minister Sitiveni Rabuka suspended Malimali from her role on May 29, following a damning Commission of Inquiry into her appointment.

    Malimali was described as “universally corrupt” by Justice David Ashton-Lewis, the commissioner of the nine-week investigation, which involved 35 witnesses.

    “She was a pawn in the hands of devious members of government, who wanted any allegations against them or other government members thrown out,” Ashton-Lewis told RNZ Pacific Waves earlier this month.

    Tanya Waqanika, who acts for Malimali, told RNZ Pacific that her client was seeking a “substantial” payout for damages and unpaid dues.

    Waqanika met lawyers from the Attorney-General’s Office in the capital, Suva, on Tuesday after earlier negotiations failed.

    Expected to hear in writing
    She declined to say exactly what was discussed, but said she expected to hear back in writing from the other party the same day.

    A High Court judge has given the government until 3pm on Friday to reach a settlement, otherwise he will rule on the application on Monday.

    “We’ll see what they come up with, that’s the beauty of negotiations, but NZ$1.5 million would be a good amount to play with after your career has been ruined,” Waqanika said.

    “[Malimali’s] career spans over 27 years, but it is now down the drain thanks to Ashton-Lewis and the damage the inquiry report has done.”

    She said Malimali also wanted a public apology, as she was being defamed every day in social media.

    “I don’t expect we’ll get one out of Ashton-Lewis,” she said.

    Adjournment sought
    During a hearing in the High Court on Monday, lawyers for the state sought an adjournment to discuss a settlement with Waqanika.

    However, she opposed this, saying that the government’s legal team had vast resources and they should have been prepared for the hearing.

    Malimali filed a case against President Naiqama Lalabalavu, Rabuka and the Attorney-General on June 13 on the grounds that her suspension was unconstitutional.

    Waqanika said the President suspended her on the advice of the Prime Minister instead of consulting the Judicial Services Commission.

    Government lawyers approached Waqanika offering a compensation deal the same day she lodged a judicial review in the High Court.

    This article is republished under a community partnership agreement with RNZ.

    MIL OSI Analysis – EveningReport.nz –

  • MIL-Evening Report: Fiji govt offers NZ$1.5m settlement to former anti-corruption head for ruined career

    By Margot Staunton, RNZ Pacific senior reporter

    The Fiji government looks set to pay around NZ$1.5 million in damages to the disgraced former head of the country’s anti-corruption agency FICAC.

    The state is offering Barbara Malimali an out-of-court settlement after her lawyer lodged a judicial review of her sacking in the High Court in Suva.

    Prime Minister Sitiveni Rabuka suspended Malimali from her role on May 29, following a damning Commission of Inquiry into her appointment.

    Malimali was described as “universally corrupt” by Justice David Ashton-Lewis, the commissioner of the nine-week investigation, which involved 35 witnesses.

    “She was a pawn in the hands of devious members of government, who wanted any allegations against them or other government members thrown out,” Ashton-Lewis told RNZ Pacific Waves earlier this month.

    Tanya Waqanika, who acts for Malimali, told RNZ Pacific that her client was seeking a “substantial” payout for damages and unpaid dues.

    Waqanika met lawyers from the Attorney-General’s Office in the capital, Suva, on Tuesday after earlier negotiations failed.

    Expected to hear in writing
    She declined to say exactly what was discussed, but said she expected to hear back in writing from the other party the same day.

    A High Court judge has given the government until 3pm on Friday to reach a settlement, otherwise he will rule on the application on Monday.

    “We’ll see what they come up with, that’s the beauty of negotiations, but NZ$1.5 million would be a good amount to play with after your career has been ruined,” Waqanika said.

    “[Malimali’s] career spans over 27 years, but it is now down the drain thanks to Ashton-Lewis and the damage the inquiry report has done.”

    She said Malimali also wanted a public apology, as she was being defamed every day in social media.

    “I don’t expect we’ll get one out of Ashton-Lewis,” she said.

    Adjournment sought
    During a hearing in the High Court on Monday, lawyers for the state sought an adjournment to discuss a settlement with Waqanika.

    However, she opposed this, saying that the government’s legal team had vast resources and they should have been prepared for the hearing.

    Malimali filed a case against President Naiqama Lalabalavu, Rabuka and the Attorney-General on June 13 on the grounds that her suspension was unconstitutional.

    Waqanika said the President suspended her on the advice of the Prime Minister instead of consulting the Judicial Services Commission.

    Government lawyers approached Waqanika offering a compensation deal the same day she lodged a judicial review in the High Court.

    This article is republished under a community partnership agreement with RNZ.

    MIL OSI Analysis – EveningReport.nz –

  • MIL-Evening Report: Fiji govt offers NZ$1.5m settlement to former anti-corruption head for ruined career

    By Margot Staunton, RNZ Pacific senior reporter

    The Fiji government looks set to pay around NZ$1.5 million in damages to the disgraced former head of the country’s anti-corruption agency FICAC.

    The state is offering Barbara Malimali an out-of-court settlement after her lawyer lodged a judicial review of her sacking in the High Court in Suva.

    Prime Minister Sitiveni Rabuka suspended Malimali from her role on May 29, following a damning Commission of Inquiry into her appointment.

    Malimali was described as “universally corrupt” by Justice David Ashton-Lewis, the commissioner of the nine-week investigation, which involved 35 witnesses.

    “She was a pawn in the hands of devious members of government, who wanted any allegations against them or other government members thrown out,” Ashton-Lewis told RNZ Pacific Waves earlier this month.

    Tanya Waqanika, who acts for Malimali, told RNZ Pacific that her client was seeking a “substantial” payout for damages and unpaid dues.

    Waqanika met lawyers from the Attorney-General’s Office in the capital, Suva, on Tuesday after earlier negotiations failed.

    Expected to hear in writing
    She declined to say exactly what was discussed, but said she expected to hear back in writing from the other party the same day.

    A High Court judge has given the government until 3pm on Friday to reach a settlement, otherwise he will rule on the application on Monday.

    “We’ll see what they come up with, that’s the beauty of negotiations, but NZ$1.5 million would be a good amount to play with after your career has been ruined,” Waqanika said.

    “[Malimali’s] career spans over 27 years, but it is now down the drain thanks to Ashton-Lewis and the damage the inquiry report has done.”

    She said Malimali also wanted a public apology, as she was being defamed every day in social media.

    “I don’t expect we’ll get one out of Ashton-Lewis,” she said.

    Adjournment sought
    During a hearing in the High Court on Monday, lawyers for the state sought an adjournment to discuss a settlement with Waqanika.

    However, she opposed this, saying that the government’s legal team had vast resources and they should have been prepared for the hearing.

    Malimali filed a case against President Naiqama Lalabalavu, Rabuka and the Attorney-General on June 13 on the grounds that her suspension was unconstitutional.

    Waqanika said the President suspended her on the advice of the Prime Minister instead of consulting the Judicial Services Commission.

    Government lawyers approached Waqanika offering a compensation deal the same day she lodged a judicial review in the High Court.

    This article is republished under a community partnership agreement with RNZ.

    MIL OSI Analysis – EveningReport.nz –

  • MIL-Evening Report: Fiji govt offers NZ$1.5m settlement to former anti-corruption head for ruined career

    By Margot Staunton, RNZ Pacific senior reporter

    The Fiji government looks set to pay around NZ$1.5 million in damages to the disgraced former head of the country’s anti-corruption agency FICAC.

    The state is offering Barbara Malimali an out-of-court settlement after her lawyer lodged a judicial review of her sacking in the High Court in Suva.

    Prime Minister Sitiveni Rabuka suspended Malimali from her role on May 29, following a damning Commission of Inquiry into her appointment.

    Malimali was described as “universally corrupt” by Justice David Ashton-Lewis, the commissioner of the nine-week investigation, which involved 35 witnesses.

    “She was a pawn in the hands of devious members of government, who wanted any allegations against them or other government members thrown out,” Ashton-Lewis told RNZ Pacific Waves earlier this month.

    Tanya Waqanika, who acts for Malimali, told RNZ Pacific that her client was seeking a “substantial” payout for damages and unpaid dues.

    Waqanika met lawyers from the Attorney-General’s Office in the capital, Suva, on Tuesday after earlier negotiations failed.

    Expected to hear in writing
    She declined to say exactly what was discussed, but said she expected to hear back in writing from the other party the same day.

    A High Court judge has given the government until 3pm on Friday to reach a settlement, otherwise he will rule on the application on Monday.

    “We’ll see what they come up with, that’s the beauty of negotiations, but NZ$1.5 million would be a good amount to play with after your career has been ruined,” Waqanika said.

    “[Malimali’s] career spans over 27 years, but it is now down the drain thanks to Ashton-Lewis and the damage the inquiry report has done.”

    She said Malimali also wanted a public apology, as she was being defamed every day in social media.

    “I don’t expect we’ll get one out of Ashton-Lewis,” she said.

    Adjournment sought
    During a hearing in the High Court on Monday, lawyers for the state sought an adjournment to discuss a settlement with Waqanika.

    However, she opposed this, saying that the government’s legal team had vast resources and they should have been prepared for the hearing.

    Malimali filed a case against President Naiqama Lalabalavu, Rabuka and the Attorney-General on June 13 on the grounds that her suspension was unconstitutional.

    Waqanika said the President suspended her on the advice of the Prime Minister instead of consulting the Judicial Services Commission.

    Government lawyers approached Waqanika offering a compensation deal the same day she lodged a judicial review in the High Court.

    This article is republished under a community partnership agreement with RNZ.

    MIL OSI Analysis – EveningReport.nz –

  • MIL-Evening Report: Internal tensions throw PNG anti-corruption body into crisis

    By Scott Waide, RNZ Pacific PNG correspondent

    Three staffers from Papua New Guinea’s peak anti-corruption body are embroiled in a standoff that has brought into question the integrity of the organisation.

    Police Commissioner David Manning has confirmed that he received a formal complaint.

    Commissioner Manning said that initial inquiries were underway to inform the “sensitive investigation board’s” consideration of the referral.

    That board itself is controversial, having been set up as a halfway point to decide if an investigation into a subject should proceed through the usual justice process.

    Manning indicated if the board determined a criminal offence had occurred, the matter would be assigned to the National Fraud and Anti-Corruption Directorate for independent investigation.

    Local news media reported PNG Prime Minister James Marape was being kept informed of the developments.

    Marape has issued a statement acknowledging the internal tensions within ICAC and reaffirming his government’s commitment to the institution.

    Long-standing goal
    The establishment of ICAC in Papua New Guinea has been a long-standing national aspiration, dating back to 1984. The enabling legislation for ICAC was passed on 20 November 2020, bringing the body into legal existence.

    Marape said it was a proud moment of his leadership having achieved this in just 18 months after he took office in May 2019.

    The appointments process for ICAC officials was described as rigorous and internationally supervised, making the current internal disputes disheartening for many.

    Marape has reacted strongly to the crisis, expressing disappointment over the allegations and differences between the three ICAC leaders. He affirmed his government’s “unwavering commitment” to ICAC.

    These developments have significant implications for Papua New Guinea, particularly concerning its international commitments related to combating financial crime.

    PNG has been working to address deficiencies in its anti-money laundering and counter-terrorism financing (AML/CTF) framework, with the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) closely monitoring its progress.

    Crucial for fighting corruption
    An effective and credible ICAC is crucial for demonstrating the country’s commitment to fighting corruption, a key component of a robust AML/CTF regime.

    Furthermore, the International Monetary Fund (IMF) often includes governance and anti-corruption measures as part of its conditionalities for financial assistance and programme support.

    Any perception of instability or compromised integrity within ICAC could hinder Papua New Guinea’s efforts to meet these international requirements, potentially affecting its financial standing and access to crucial development funds.

    The current situation lays bare the urgent need for swift and decisive action to restore confidence in ICAC and ensure it can effectively fulfill its mandate.

    This article is republished under a community partnership agreement with RNZ.

    MIL OSI Analysis – EveningReport.nz –