Abuse of Office: Bainimarama and Qiliho case adjourned to March 24th

The case of former Prime Minister Voreqe Bainimarama and former Police Commissioner Sitiveni Qiliho in the matter where they allegedly made unwarranted demands to the then Acting Police Commissioner Rusiate Tudravu, to terminate the employment of two police officers from the Fiji Police Force will be called again on March 24th.

The two appeared before Magistrate Jeremiah Savou this morning who asked if the matter should be taken to the High Court because of the definition of ‘public service’ and ‘civil service’ and how the Police Commissioner's role is defined under the Constitution.

Magistrate Savou has asked them to clarify this matter first before the hearing.

Both DPP and Bainimarama and Qiliho’s lawyers indicated they want the matter to be dealt with in the Magistrates Court.

The two allegedly made unwarranted demands to the then Acting Police Commissioner Rusiate Tudravu, to terminate the employment of two police officers from the Fiji Police Force.

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, being employed as a public official, gave an unwarranted demand to Rusiate Tudravu, to terminate the employment of Sergeant Penieli Ratei and Police Constable Tomasi Naulu from the Fiji Police Force, and if he did not terminate the officers, he was to hand in his resignation.

His demand was directly related to Bainimarama’s official capacity as the Prime Minister of Fiji, and was done with the intention of influencing Tudravu, a public official, in the exercise of his official duty as the Acting Commissioner of Police.

It is alleged that Qiliho, between the 5th to the 18th of August 2021 in Suva, being employed as the Commissioner of Police, reviewed the disciplinary decision given by Rusiate Tudravu as the Acting Commissioner of Police against Sergeant Penieli Ratei and Police Constable Tomasi Naulu which was five equivalent paid working days, and contrary to this decision terminated the employment of Ratei and Naulu from the Fiji Police Force in the abuse of the authority of his office which was an arbitrary act, prejudicial to the rights of Ratei and Naulu.