The Fiji Police Force has confirmed that investigations arising from the Commission of Inquiry (COI) report have been completed and closed after the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (ODPP) advised there was insufficient evidence to pursue criminal charges.

Police Commissioner Rusiate Tudravu made the confirmation when questioned by the media about a statutory declaration circulating online, which alleges police had recommended charges against several high-profile individuals, including the Chief Justice and the Acting Attorney-General.

Tudravu said police had completed their investigations into the criminal allegations contained in the COI report before referring the files to the ODPP for legal opinion.

“I want to confirm that we have done the investigation in the criminal allegations that were done based on the COI report,” Tudravu said.

“It was referred to us and our investigators have done the investigation and it was submitted back to the DPP for the opinion.”

He said the ODPP subsequently advised there was insufficient evidence to proceed with criminal charges.

“There is insufficient evidence and the file has been filed. That will be known from the investigation done and then based on the advice from the DPP’s office,” he said.

The Police Commissioner also confirmed that a separate complaint lodged by former Fiji Independent Commission Against Corruption (FICAC) Commissioner Barbara Malimali against former Acting FICAC Commissioner Francis Puleiwai and former FICAC investigations manager Kuliniasi Saumi had also been investigated.

According to Tudravu, that matter was likewise referred to the ODPP, which advised there was insufficient evidence to support prosecution.

“All of those have already been investigated. It has been submitted to the Office of the DPP and the recommendation stays insufficient. So all has been filed. There is no investigation further on that,” he said.

When questioned about claims made by former ODPP staff member Susana Vuniani that police files returned from the ODPP did not contain a legal opinion from King’s Counsel Ian Lloyd, Tudravu declined to comment, saying the matter should be directed to the prosecution office.

“Just go back to DPP. They will answer that. We are not privy to that information,” he said.

The comments come amid scrutiny following the circulation of a statutory declaration by former ODPP administration officer Susana Vuniani, who alleges police had recommended charges against several senior public officials and that the prosecution process was improperly handled.

The ODPP has strongly rejected those allegations, describing them as inaccurate and maintaining that all COI-related files underwent assessments by senior prosecutors and an independent review by Australian King’s Counsel before the decision was made that there was insufficient evidence to sustain criminal charges.

Earlier this year, the ODPP confirmed it had reviewed 12 files submitted by the Fiji Police Force arising from the Commission of Inquiry.

It said one file involving Barbara Malimali had previously been closed due to insufficient evidence, while the remaining 11 files were also found not to meet the criminal threshold required for prosecution.