Former Prime Minister of Fiji, Frank Bainimarama, has been convicted of corruption charges, with a ruling delivered by Justice Thushara Rajasinghe. Bainimarama was found guilty of making unwarranted demands with menace, as he pressured then Acting Police Commissioner Rusiate Tudravu to dismiss Police Sergeant Penieli Ratei and Constable Tomasi Naulu. The judgment reveals that between May and August 2021, Bainimarama threatened Tudravu, stating he would have to resign if he did not comply with his orders, which constituted a demand with menace as outlined in the law.
Bainimarama’s sentencing will take place at a date to be determined by the court. This conviction marks his second on corruption-related charges; he was previously sentenced to one year in prison for obstructing a police investigation linked to corruption.
In a related development, former Police Commissioner Sitiveni Qiliho was acquitted of two counts of abuse of office. The court found insufficient evidence to support the claims that Qiliho had overruled disciplinary actions taken against Ratei and Naulu. Prior to this ruling, both Bainimarama and Qiliho had been embroiled in a different corruption scandal involving financial misconduct at the University of the South Pacific, where they were convicted and faced jail time.
This case has drawn significant public interest, emphasizing crucial issues of accountability and governance in Fiji. Observers express hope that the judgment will contribute to a broader commitment to ethical conduct within public service, reinforcing the importance of integrity in governance. As the legal proceedings continue, there is a collective aspiration among the public for transparency and a stronger framework for accountability that could lead to renewed faith in governmental institutions.