Former Prime Minister Voreqe Bainimarama has been found guilty of making an unwarranted demand with menace, while former Police Commissioner Sitiveni Qiliho has been acquitted of two charges of abuse of office. The verdict was delivered by Justice Thushara Rajasinghe during a high-profile trial in Suva that has garnered significant national attention.
Bainimarama’s conviction is based on events that occurred between May 21 and August 18, 2021. During this period, he pressured then Acting Police Commissioner Rusiate Tudravu to dismiss two police officers—Sergeant Penieli Ratei and Constable Tomasi Naulu. The court concluded that Bainimarama threatened to resign if his demands were not met, which constitutes making a demand with menace under the law.
In contrast, Qiliho was acquitted on two charges that accused him of inappropriately reviewing and overturning Tudravu’s disciplinary actions concerning the two officers. The court found that the evidence presented was insufficient to sustain the charges against him.
The prosecution team included Assistant Director of Public Prosecutions Laisani Tabuakuro and Senior State lawyer Pooja Mishra, while Bainimarama and Qiliho were represented by lawyers Devanesh Sharma and Gul Fatima from R Patel Lawyers.
As the case concludes, the sentencing for Bainimarama is anticipated to be announced in the near future. The heavy public interest in these proceedings highlights significant concerns about accountability and ethics within governance structures. Many observers are optimistic that the outcomes of this trial will bolster the principles of transparency and restore public trust in Fiji’s institutions, potentially leading to better governance standards in the country.