Former Prime Minister, Voreqe Bainimarama and suspended Police Commissioner Sitiveni Qiliho who have been charged with offences relating to alleged abuse of office, regarding the unlawful termination of two police officers in 2021, have been released on bail by the Suva Magistrates Court.
Bainimarama is charged with unwarranted demands made by a public official while Qiliho is charged with 2 counts of abuse of office.
It is alleged that Bainimarama between 21st May 2021 to 18th August 2021, being employed as a public official, made an unwarranted demand with menaces of Rusiate Tudravu when he told Tudravu to terminate the employment of Sergeant Penieli Ratei and Constable Tomasi Naulu with the Fiji Police Force and that if he did not terminate the officers that he was to hand in his resignation. It is alleged that this demand was directly related to Bainimarama’s official capacity as the Prime Minister and was done with the intention of influencing Tudravu in the exercise of his official duties as the Acting Commissioner of Police.
It is alleged that Qiliho between 5th to 18th August 2021, being employed as the Commissioner of Police, reviewed the disciplinary action decision made by Rusiate Tudravu as the Acting Commissioner of Police against Constable Naulu and Sergeant Penieli Ratei, and contrary to the decision, terminated the employment of Naulu and Ratei with the Police Force, in abuse of the authority of his office.
Acting Director of Public Prosecutions, John Rabuku did not object to bail.
Magistrate Jeremiah Savou set the bail conditions which include two sureties each, $10,000 bail bond each, a stop departure and no interference with witnesses. Their passports are already with the courts based on bail conditions set in other cases.
The first phase of disclosures have been given by Rabuku.
Bainimarama and Qiliho are represented by Devanesh Sharma and Gul Fatima.
The case has been adjourned to March 19th.
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