Former Prime Minister, Voreqe Bainimarama and suspended Police Commissioner, Sitiveni Qiliho have officially been charged with abuse of office and were kept in custody last night.
Chief of Intelligence and Investigations, Acting ACP Sakeo Raikaci says they will appear in the Suva Magistrates Court at 8am today.
Acting ACP Raikaci says given the seriousness of the charge, they could not grant bail to the two as it is not a bailable offence.
Additional security will be provided for the special court sitting today.
The charges have been sanctioned against Bainimarama and Qiliho.
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.
Director of Public Prosecutions, Christopher Pryde had sanctioned the charges of abuse of office following a review of the police evidence docket.
Pryde says the charges relate to a complaint laid with the police by the University of the South Pacific in July 2019 in relation to the activities of former staff members of the university.
The DPP says Bainimarama and Qiliho are alleged to have arbitrarily and in abuse of the authority of their respective offices, terminated an active police investigation. The police have also been requested to undertake further investigations into other matters arising from this case and more charges may be laid against other suspects in due course.
Bainimarama and Qiliho arrived at around lunch time yesterday while Bainimarama arrived soon after 4pm for further questioning at the CID Headquarters before they were taken to the Totogo Police Station.
Raikaci says the continuation of the questioning was in accordance with the processes to be undertaken before the investigation was finalized.
He says the Police are doing there work without any interference.
Stay with us for developments.
