Judgement set for Sept 26 in Bainimarama and Qiliho’s case over sacking of officers

High Court Judge Justice Thushara Rajasinghe will deliver his judgement on 26th September in the case against former Prime Minister Voreqe Bainimarama and former Police Commissioner Sitiveni Qiliho, who are accused of allegedly making an unwarranted demand on then Acting Police Commissioner Rusiate Tudravu.

Qiliho was released on Monday after serving a little more than a year in his two year sentence for a previous abuse of office conviction.

The maximum penalty for abuse of office is 10 years imprisonment.

The Crimes Act states that if the act is done or directed to be done for gain, then the maximum penalty is 17 years imprisonment.

Bainimarama is charged with one count of unwarranted demand made by a public official while Qiliho is charged with two counts of abuse of office.

It is alleged that Bainimarama, between the 21st of May 2021 to the 18th of August 2021 in Suva, as the Prime Minister of Fiji made an unwarranted demand with menace to the Acting Commissioner of Police, Rusiate Tudravu, by threatening his employment to influence the Acting COMPOL to comply with his unwarranted demand for the termination of the employment of Sergeant Penieli Ratei and Police Constable Tomasi Naulu who came under the supervision and authority of the Commissioner of Police.

In Qiliho’s case, it is alleged that between the 5th to the 18th of August 2021 in Suva whilst being employed as the Commissioner of Police, Qiliho directed the termination of employment of Sergeant Penieli Ratei and Police Constable Tomasi Naulu without due process which was an abuse of office of his authority as the Commissioner of Police and the termination was prejudicial to the rights Ratei and Naulu.