Corporal Amelia Kamsoo informed the Suva High Court in the trial of former Prime Minister Voreqe Bainimarama and former Police Commissioner Sitiveni Qiliho that the then Acting Police Commissioner, Rusiate Tudravu’s official phone was disposed in 2021.
While giving her evidence remotely Kamsoo confirmed that Tudravu’s official phone, a Samsung Note 20 Ultra, was returned when he resigned.
She says the phone was later disposed as rubbish and is no longer with the Fiji Police Force.
The Corporal says the phone was returned in a damaged condition, with the screen blank.
During cross-examination by defence counsel Devanesh Sharma, Kamsoo mentioned that the phone was taken to Fonoelogy for examination, who confirmed it was beyond repair as something was wrong with the mother board.
She further says that no attempts were made to retrieve the data, and the phone was thrown away about a month after Tudravu’s resignation in 2021.
Meanwhile, Inspector Mikaele Coka testified that the issuance of all electronic gadgets within the Force is recorded, including the phone type, serial number and officer’s name.
He says the gadgets are provided by Vodafone Fiji.
Coka says the officers are required to return their phones upon resignation and must lodge a report if they lose it so that the unit can track the device.
Suva High Court Judge Justice Thushara Rajasinghe asked Sharma if he was planning to file a no case to answer application.
Sharma responded that they are not planning to file the application at this stage.
The matter has been adjourned to next Monday.
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.
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.
