Former Prime Minister Voreqe Bainimarama and former Police Commissioner Sitiveni Qiliho, who are accused of allegedly making an unwarranted demand on then Acting Police Commissioner Rusiate Tudravu, will know their fate later this morning. High Court Judge Justice Thushara Rajasinghe will deliver his judgement at 11.30am today after earlier adjourning the matter as he needed clarification on Tudravu’s appointment as the Acting Commissioner.
Bainimarama is charged with one count of unwarranted demand made by a public official, while Qiliho has been charged with two counts of abuse of office.
The maximum penalty for the charge of unwarranted demand made by a public official is 12 years imprisonment.
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.
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 menace to the 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.
In Qiliho’s case, 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.
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