Bainimarama and Qiliho may take stand in trial for sacked officers

Former Prime Minister Voreqe Bainimarama and former Police Commissioner Sitiveni Qiliho could be taking the stand during the trial where they allegedly made unwarranted demands to dismiss two police officers.

This has been confirmed by their lawyer Gul Fatima during the pre-trial conference while responding to Suva High Court Judge Justice Thushara Rajasinghe’s question about who will be the witnesses for the defence in the event they have to open its case.

Fatima says they will have no other witnesses.

State Counsel Laisani Tabuakuro informed the court that they will have 13 witnesses.

Justice Rajasinghe also gave a formal notice to Bainimarama and Qiliho that the trial will continue in their absence if they fail to appear on the date of the trial.

The trial will be held from 5th to 29th August.

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, as the Prime Minister of Fiji made an unwarranted demand with menance to the then 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.

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.