 The Legal Power Couple in Fiji |  COOK Islands Connection: A-G Graham Leung with Rokoika and her husband Ratu Tevita (alias Tangaroa) Vakalalabure in Cook Islands |
COOKING UP A NEW IDENTITY IN Fiji, Ratu Tevita Vakalalabure JUNIOR?
*A lawyer who was struck off 12 years ago for drink driving has been given another chance. | Husband and wife, Tevita Tangaroa Vakalalabure (left) and Lavi Rokoika were both sworn in at the High Court on Tuesday, 4 October 2022 |
The Prime Minister, Sitiveni Rabuka issued this statement today.
This afternoon His Excellency the President informed me that he had taken the following actions to implement the recommendations of the Report of the Commission of Inquiry (COI) into the appointment of the FICAC Commissioner.
The Final Report of the COI was transmitted on 14th May 2025 with eight chapters and ten (10) annexures with a total of 648 pages including the ten annexures.
Pursuant to section 81 and 82 of the Constitution of the Republic of Fiji, the President has today made the following decisions after advice from me as Prime Minister and Minister responsible for the Commission of Inquiries Act:
(i) Ms. Barbara Malimali has been suspended with immediate effect as Commissioner of the Fiji Independent Commission Against Corruption pending investigation by the Fiji Police Force of allegations against her raised in the COI Report;
(ii) Ms. Lavi Rokoika has been appointed with immediate effect as Acting Commissioner of the Fiji Independent Commission Against Corruption;
(iii) Mr. Lisiate Fotofili’s appointment as Deputy Commissioner of the Fiji Independent Commission Against Corruption has been rescinded with immediate effect and he returns to his substantive position in the Fiji Judiciary.
Ms. Malimali and Mr. Fotofili received their letters respectively this afternoon and undertook the handing over process to the Acting Commissioner Ms. Lavi Rokoika. Ms. Rokoika has assumed office as Acting FICAC Commissioner and met with Ms. Malimali, Mr. Fotofili and FICAC Managers at the FICAC Headquarters in Suva this afternoon.
"I ask the people of Fiji to remain patient as we carefully map the implementation of the COI Report. I am committed to the release of the report which is funded by the people of Fiji. However this will be done in a manner to ensure that investigations are not prejudiced, civil rights of accused persons are respected and the rule of law maintained."
This afternoon His Excellency the President informed me that he had taken the following actions to implement the recommendations of the Report of the Commission of Inquiry (COI) into the appointment of the FICAC Commissioner.
The Final Report of the COI was transmitted on 14th May 2025 with eight chapters and ten (10) annexures with a total of 648 pages including the ten annexures.
Pursuant to section 81 and 82 of the Constitution of the Republic of Fiji, the President has today made the following decisions after advice from me as Prime Minister and Minister responsible for the Commission of Inquiries Act:
(i) Ms. Barbara Malimali has been suspended with immediate effect as Commissioner of the Fiji Independent Commission Against Corruption pending investigation by the Fiji Police Force of allegations against her raised in the COI Report;
(ii) Ms. Lavi Rokoika has been appointed with immediate effect as Acting Commissioner of the Fiji Independent Commission Against Corruption;
(iii) Mr. Lisiate Fotofili’s appointment as Deputy Commissioner of the Fiji Independent Commission Against Corruption has been rescinded with immediate effect and he returns to his substantive position in the Fiji Judiciary.
Ms. Malimali and Mr. Fotofili received their letters respectively this afternoon and undertook the handing over process to the Acting Commissioner Ms. Lavi Rokoika. Ms. Rokoika has assumed office as Acting FICAC Commissioner and met with Ms. Malimali, Mr. Fotofili and FICAC Managers at the FICAC Headquarters in Suva this afternoon.
"I ask the people of Fiji to remain patient as we carefully map the implementation of the COI Report. I am committed to the release of the report which is funded by the people of Fiji. However this will be done in a manner to ensure that investigations are not prejudiced, civil rights of accused persons are respected and the rule of law maintained."
