Fiji lawyers warn of constitutional crisis ahead
Prominent Fiji lawyers are warning of a constitutional crisis after the arrest of journalist Charlie Charters, with calls for the president to follow legal advice and remove the head of the anti-corruption commission
Published on Pacific Beat, ABC.NET.AU
Presented by LICE MOVONO
Listen Here: https://www.abc.net.au/pacific/programs/pacificbeat/fijipresidentcrisis/106394996
A prominent Fiji lawyer is warning of a constitutional crisis if the president doesn’t follow the advice of the Judicial Legal Services Commission and sack the head of the Fiji Independent Commission Against Corruption.
This has been caused by the Fiji Independent Commission Against Corruption’s weekend arrest of former journalist Charlie Charters.
He’s been charged with aiding and abetting the release of unauthorised FICAC documents given to him by an unknown whistleblower.
Following the incident, the Judicial Services Commission advised the President to sack the head of FICAC, Lavenia Rokoika, but he has yet to act.
Two prominent lawyers, Richard Naidu and former attorney-general Graham Leung, are now publicly calling on the President to remove Rokoika, insisting he has no choice but to act on the advice.
“Under our constitution, the president, the head of state… must act on the advice of various constitutional bodies, in making appointments or indeed in removing people who are appointed under the constitution,” Mr Naidu said.
“Ms Rokoika really ought to recognise that she’s not there validly and she ought to fall on her sword and go.”
