Bainimarama and Qiliho plead not guilty to abuse of office charges

Former Prime Minister Voreqe Bainimarama and former Police Commissioner Sitiveni Qiliho have pleaded not guilty to charges of abuse of office in relation to the Police Officers sacking case.

They appeared for the first time in the High Court this afternoon before Judge Justice Thushara Rajasinghe, following the transfer of the case.

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

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.

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.

The State counsel, Laisani Tabuakuro says they have 15 witnesses in the matter.

The trial date has been set from the 5th to the 29th August, 2025.

The matter is adjourned to the 10th of July.