News
FICAC Closes Files Against Minister of Women
Posted by Media Team 01 October 2024
The Fiji Independent Commission Against Corruption (FICAC) has written to the Supervisor of Elections, informing of the decision to close the two files against the Minister of Women, Children and Poverty Alleviation, Honourable Lynda Tabuya.
The cases were endorsed for closure on 12 August 2024 and referred to the Supervisor of Elections on 20 September 2024.
In the first matter, the complaint was referred by the Supervisor of Elections to FICAC on 5 April 2024 for false and non-declaration of income. FICAC had registered the complaint in which it was later assessed and an inquiry was carried out by the Commission.
Based on the findings of the inquiry and the legal opinion rendered, FICAC has informed the Supervisor of Election that the only declaration required by the Honourable Minister was with regards to the statement of candidacy for general elections, which the Honourable Minister had submitted back in 2022. Therefore, FICAC has made a decision for the closure of the file.
In the second matter, the complaint was referred by the Supervisor of Elections to FICAC on 24 May 2024 pertaining to the false and non-declaration under Section 24 of the Political Parties Act.
FICAC had registered the complaint in which it was later assessed and an inquiry was carried out by the Commission. Based on the findings of the preliminary inquiry, FICAC concludes that there is no requirement for the Honourable Minister to disclose any spousal information as the Minister has been divorced from Mr Robert Semaan since 2016. Therefore, FICAC has made a decision for the closure of the file.
The findings from the preliminary inquiries from both cases were also submitted to the Supervisor of Elections.