The Ministry of Justice has placed Fiji Corrections Service Commissioner Dr. Jalesi Nakarawa on leave following reports of serious incidents and potential breaches under his leadership. These allegations pertain to governance, security, conduct, management, and administration within the service.
Minister for Justice, Hon. Siromi Turaga, with the agreement of the Prime Minister and the Chairman of the Constitutional Offices Commission, invoked Section 22(1) of the Fiji Corrections Service Act 2006 to initiate a thorough and independent investigation.
During this period, Dr. Nakarawa will retain full entitlements. Deputy Commissioner of Corrections, Mr. Auta Moceisuva, will serve as Acting Commissioner in his absence.
The Ministry emphasizes its commitment to restoring faith, good governance, justice, and transparency within the Corrections Services, ensuring the investigation proceeds diligently and in full compliance with the rule of law.
This development follows a series of leadership changes within the Fiji Corrections Service. In May 2024, Assistant Commissioner of Corrections, Senior Superintendent Salote Panapasa, was placed on leave pending an investigation by the Fiji Independent Commission Against Corruption (FICAC) into allegations of abuse of office. The trial for Ms. Panapasa has been scheduled for June 2025.
Earlier, in March 2023, former Commissioner of Corrections, Francis Kean, resigned from his position. Kean, a former military officer and brother-in-law of former Prime Minister Frank Bainimarama, had a controversial tenure marked by a prior conviction for manslaughter in 2007.
These incidents highlight ongoing efforts to address governance and integrity issues within Fiji’s Corrections Service. The Ministry of Justice remains dedicated to ensuring transparency and accountability in its operations.
