Prime Minister Sitiveni Rabuka has defended the millions of dollars spent on the Commission of Inquiry in the appointment of Barbara Malimali as FICAC Commissioner.

Responding to questions from the media, Rabuka said the cost of ensuring accountability and upholding the law should not be seen as wasted.

Questions have continued to be raised over the public funds spent on the inquiry, particularly after the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions found there was insufficient evidence to pursue charges against individuals named in the report.

Responding to the concerns, Rabuka said government expenditure on the inquiry would be accounted for through normal parliamentary processes.

“The money part of it will have to be tabled in Parliament as part of the expenditure of government,” he said.

Rabuka maintained that the inquiry served an important purpose, despite criticism over its cost and the absence of prosecutions to date.

“A lot of money is spent on watching the nation for those who break the law,” he said.

The Prime Minister also confirmed that the Commission of Inquiry report will only be made public after all related court proceedings have concluded.

“After the court action, it may get out,” he said.

The Commission of Inquiry, led by Justice David Ashton-Lewis, was established to investigate matters surrounding the appointment of the former FICAC Commissioner and has since resulted in several ongoing legal proceedings.