The constitutional motion hearing for former Prime Minister Voreqe Bainimarama and former Police Commissioner Sitiveni Qiliho, has been adjourned to the 22nd of this month.
This is the case where Bainimarama and Qiliho allegedly made unwarranted demands to then-acting Police Commissioner Rusiate Tudravu to terminate the employment of two police officers from the Fiji Police Force.
The two appeared before Magistrate Jeremaia Savou today.
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 alleged demand was directly related to Bainimarama’s official capacity as the Prime Minister of Fiji and was done to influence 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.
