Former Prime Minister Voreqe Bainimarama and former Police Commissioner Sitiveni Qiliho
Former Prime Minister Voreqe Bainimarama and former Police Commissioner Sitiveni Qiliho have pleaded not guilty to inciting mutiny charges.
The matter has been adjourned to the 6th of May for pretrial conference and to fix a trial date.
ODPP lawyer Luisa Latu has indicated that there will be 24 witnesses but that is expected to reduce.
It is alleged that Bainimarama between the 1st of January 2023 and the 31st of July 2023 in Suva, sent viber messages to Brigadier General Manoa Gadai in his attempt to incite him to take over command and overthrow the authority of the Commander of the Republic of Fiji Military Forces, Major General Jone Kalouniwai.
For the second count of inciting to mutiny, it is alleged that Bainimarama and Qiliho between the 1st of July 2023 to the 31st of July, 2023 jointly spoke to Lt Colonel Atunaisa Vakatale, Colonel Aseri Rokoura, Colonel Viliame Draunibaka and others, who were senior officers of RFMF in their joint attempt to incite the senior officers to unlawfully arrest and take over the authority of the Commander of the Republic of Fiji Military Forces, Major General Jone Kalouniwai.
