[2] In 1986 he left the civil service to head the South Pacific Applied Geoscience Commission.
[3] In 1992 he was nominated to head the South Pacific Commission, but withdrew his nomination suddenly to take up the position of permanent secretary to the Fijian Prime Minister's Office.
[4] On 23 September 2005, he was made to apologise to the High Court of Fiji for making statements defending the Prime Minister Laisenia Qarase, against allegations of involvement in a Ministry of Agriculture scandal, in which more than F$30 million was allegedly misappropriated.
Justice Nazhat Shameem ruled Kotobalavu's comments to be in contempt of court and ordered him to apologise and to refrain from making any further statements until after the trial.
[6] He was later employed as a consultant for office of the Prime Minister of Samoa.