FICAC role queried
THE same rigid standards applied by the Supervisor of Elections and Fiji Independent Commission Against Corruption on political parties and members of Parliament should apply to government ministers and permanent secretaries, says National Federation Party president Pio Tikoduadua.
He said under the doctrine of ministerial responsibility, government ministers and permanent secretaries should be charged and hauled to court for anomalies in audit reports that were debated in Parliament.
Mr Tikoduadua made the statements while speaking on FICAC’s annual reports of 2014 and 2015 that were tabled in Parliament last week.
He said FICAC should not be used as an oppressive tool by Government.
He claimed the FICAC website showed it received 67,417 complaints out of which 1570 were investigated, 366 individuals charged and 115 individuals convicted.
This, he said showed FICAC’s success rate was abysmal with a conviction rate of 31 per cent of the number of individuals charged.
He said it clearly showed that more than 97 per cent of complaints received by the commission and investigated were frivolous and baseless.
“Only 2.32 per cent of complaints or 1570 complaints were investigated,” he said.
He said the commission was also authorised to deal with complaints lodged by the Supervisor of Elections in respect of alleged breaches of electoral laws.
“Three cases come to mind, those of former SODELPA Whip Ratu Isoa Tikoca, former SODELPA leader Sitiveni Rabuka and Agriculture Minister Honourable (Mahendra) Reddy.
“All three were acquitted. But it must have cost them thousands of dollars to hire lawyers to defend them. Not to mention psychological trauma associated with charges hanging over their heads.
“The outcome of these cases necessitate FICAC to relook at its role as the policing authority following referral to it of cases by the Supervisor of Elections,” Mr Tikoduadua said.