Ex-Fiji prosecutions office employee 'scared to leave Australia' after leaked corruption allegations

A former employee of Fiji's Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (ODPP) is living in fear in Australia, hesitant to return to Fiji after making explosive allegations of corruption within the organization. Susana Vuniani, who resigned in May, claims there is a conspiracy to quash the findings of a 2023 Commission of Inquiry (COI) and shield prominent figures from prosecution.

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All I want is to be with my three children, but I am too scared to leave Australia and return to Fiji.

Vuniani, 41, submitted a statutory declaration in Sydney on June 26, detailing her claims. She stated that during a meeting, Fiji's Chief Justice Salesi Temo, acting director of public prosecutions Nancy Tikoisuva, and her deputy John Rabuku decided to shelve police recommendations to charge individuals implicated in the COI. "During the meeting it was decided that the COI case would be closed, as the individuals implicated were high-profile civil servants, members of parliament, senior members of the legal fraternity, including the judiciary and the DPP leadership itself," Vuniani alleged.

She further claimed that the directive to close the case came from Chief Justice Temo, who reportedly stated that proceeding with charges would cause "embarrassment and conflict." This contradicts Tikoisuva's January announcement that twelve police investigations stemming from the COI were dismissed due to insufficient evidence. Tikoisuva had stated that the files were assessed by senior prosecutors without prior involvement and reviewed by an independent consultant, Ian Lloyd KC. However, Vuniani disputes this, asserting that all work was handled internally by legal officers within the DPP's office.

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During the meeting it was decided that the COI case would be closed, as the individuals implicated were high-profile civil servants, members of parliament, senior members of the legal fraternity, including the judiciary and the DPP leadership itself.

Fiji's Independent Commission Against Corruption has stated that Vuniani's allegations did not provide sufficient evidence for a formal investigation. The ODPP has also rejected her claims, reportedly stating that charges were dropped after a review of evidence, prospects of conviction, public interest, and statutory limitations. Vuniani expressed her deep fear, saying, "All I want is to be with my three children, but I am too scared to leave Australia and return to Fiji."

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What they said is that proceeding with charges would cause embarrassment and conflict and that this was the directive given by Chief Justice Temo.