Bainimarama says he never directed police officers to do things the way he wanted

Former Prime Minister Voreqe Bainimarama told the High Court today that he never directed police officers to do things the way he wanted.

During cross-examination, State Counsel Laisani Tabuakuro asked Bainimarama if he had threatened the then Acting Police Commissioner Rusiate Tudravu by saying, “If you don’t terminate them, you’ll lose your job.”

Bainimarama said he did not threaten Tudravu to resign.

He told the court that when he spoke to Tudravu about his brother Jonacani Bainimarama’s complaint, he expected Tudravu to take action.

Tabuakuro also asked Bainimarama if Qiliho had any police experience when he was appointed Acting Police Commissioner in 2015.

Bainimarama replied that Qiliho did not, but as a military officer, he believed Qiliho could handle the work.

The former Prime Minister says he returned his official phone to the Planning and Coordinating Officer at the Prime Minister’s Office, William Pawa, after his term ended.

He adds that he was unsure if he gave Pawa his password to change it.

Bainimarama said he does not know what action was taken on his concerns. He also told the court that during the trial he learned two police officers were convicted by the Police Tribunal for the matter raised.

Bainimarama has stressed that the allegations against him are not true.

Bainimarama is charged with one count of unwarranted demand made by a public official, while former Police Commissioner Sitiveni Qiliho is charged with two counts of abuse of office for sacking two police officers in 2021.

Bainimarama says his elder brother, Jonacani Bainimarama, had complained that his photo was shared in a Police Viber group and that he felt embarrassed about it.

Bainimarama says he then called and later met with Tudravu about the matter.

He says Tudravu informed him that he would speak to the officers involved, and Bainimarama was satisfied with that response.

The former Prime Minister also stressed that he never sent Viber messages to Tudravu regarding his brother's complaint.

He further said that after this discussion, they never spoke about the issue again.

It is alleged that Bainimarama and Qiliho made unwarranted demands to then Acting Police Commissioner Rusiate Tudravu, directing him to terminate the employment of certain 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, 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.