Acting DPP wants Bainimarama/Qiliho hearing in dismissal of 2 police officers case to be held this year

Acting Director of Public Prosecutions John Rabuku says he wants the hearing of former Prime Minister Voreqe Bainimarama and suspended Police Commissioner, Brigadier General Sitiveni Qiliho to be held this year in the matter where they were allegedly involved in making unwarranted demands to the Acting Commissioner at the time, Rusiate Tudravu.

Magistrate Jeremaia Savou has agreed to an adjournment to the 10th of June for the pre-trial conference.

The Office of the Director for Public Prosecutions says they have sent the proposed facts to Bainimarama and Qiliho’s lawyer Devanesh Sharma.

Sharma says they want a soft copy of the facts and more clarity on former Acting Police Commissioner Rusiate Tudravu's statement.

Rabuku says they will have a conference with Tudravu and then send it to the defence.

Bainimarama and Qiliho who are currently in prison serving 1 year and 2 year sentences respectively for the USP case, appeared in relation to charges where they were allegedly involved in making unwarranted demands to the Acting Commissioner at the time, Rusiate Tudravu which eventually resulted in the termination of two police officers.

Bainimarama had earlier pleaded not guilty to one count of unwarranted demand made by a public official, while Qiliho has pleaded not guilty to two counts of abuse of office before Magistrate Jeremaia Savou.

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, made 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.

It is alleged 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.