Director CID confirms Jonacani Bainimarama was a taxi driver and arrested with two others in Lami in 2021

Director of CID, Serupepeli Neiko, who was the then Director of Narcotics has confirmed that former Prime Minister Voreqe Bainimarama’s brother, Jonacani Bainimarama, was a police informer.

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.

Bainimarama and Qiliho allegedly made unwarranted demands to the then Acting Police Commissioner Rusiate Tudravu, to terminate the employment of these police officers from the Fiji Police Force.

While giving evidence in the trial, Neiko says Jonacani was a taxi driver and was arrested with two others in Lami in 2021.

He says that Jonacani was not charged because he agreed to assist police by providing information on drug movements.

The Director CID says the then Acting Police Commissioner, Rusiate Tudravu had asked him to take a statement regarding a photo taken by two police officers.

He confirmed that Tudravu was aware Neiko knew Jonacani because he had been an informer for about a year, from 2020 to 2021.

During cross-examination, defence counsel Devanesh Sharma asked if circulating a photo of an informer could pose a risk to their life.

Neiko responded that the concerns raised by Jonacani Bainimarama were genuine, as the identities of informers are highly protected.

Meanwhile, Inspector Suliasi Dulaki also gave evidence that on the 7th of August this year, he had prepared a search warrant for Qiliho, as well as the Acting Commissioner Tudravu’s appointment letter and any other necessary documents.

Dulaki says the documents did not include contract copies.

He also confirmed that he did not know when Tudravu began his acting position.

Tudravu is expected to give evidence today, concluding the State’s witnesses.

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.