Fiji Law Society president Laurel Vaurasi during their submission

Fiji Law Society President Laurel Vaurasi says they need a specific amendment on the Code of Conduct Bill.

Vaurasi says this is whereby the Commission must accept and investigate any complaint from an anonymous person providing there’s compelling evidence.

During their submission to the Standing Committee on Justice, Law and Human Rights on the Code of Conduct Bill, Vaurasi says the commission should be given the discretion when dealing with complaints.

“I mean we are complaining, the complaint will be lodged against public official, it can be against the President or Prime Minister, and any normal person who is going to lodge a complaint knows that this is not something taken lightly and you need to be brave to come and state that this public official stole this morning or bribery was involved.”

However, Committee Chair Alvick Maharaj says the commission can’t have the discretion the Fiji Law Society desires.

“They cannot actual decide on their own discretion, whether it should be going to them or not. But if they have enough evidence, to actual see that the person needs to be persecuted, it’s must for the Commission to actually act on that particular complaint.”

The Fiji Law Society also reiterated that there needs to be a time frame in place for complaints lodged with the Commission responsible for the Code of Conduct Bill.