Heightened security outside High Court for Bainimarama and Qiliho sentencing

There is a heightened sense of security outside the Suva High Court for the sentencing of former Prime Minister Voreqe Bainimarama and suspended Police Commissioner, Sitiveni Qiliho.

Only family members, lawyers and the media have been allowed into the court room.

IDs are getting checked and the general public are not allowed in.

Some embassy reps have also been allowed into the court house.

Leader of Opposition Inia Seruiratu, FijiFirst MPs Faiyaz Koya, Rinesh Sharma, Ketan Lal, Vijay Nath, Ioane Naivalurua and Virendra Lal are also in attendance.

Acting Chief Justice, Salesi Temo will sentence Bainimarama and Qiliho in the USP matter this hour.

There is more pronounced Police presence than usual with vehicles being checked upon entry.

A section has been cordoned off in front of the High Court facing Holiday Inn.

Bainimarama was found guilty of one count of attempt to pervert the course of justice while Qiliho was found guilty of one count of abuse of office by Acting Chief Justice Salesi Temo.

Bainimarama's attempt to pervert the course of justice charge has a maximum tariff of 5 years while Qiliho's charge of abuse of office carries a maximum tariff of 10 years.

According to the charges, Bainimarama sometime in July 2020 as the Prime Minister directed the Police Commissioner to stop the investigation into a police complaint, in the abuse of the authority of his office, which was an arbitrary act prejudicial to the rights of the University of the South Pacific which is the complainant.

For Qiliho's charges, the charges say that Qiliho on the 15th of July, 2020 as the Police Commissioner directed the Director of the Criminal Investigations Department, Serupepeli Neiko and Inspector Reshmi Dass to stop investigations into the police complaint by the USP, in the abuse of the authority of his office, which was an arbitrary act prejudicial to the rights of USP.

Assistant DPP, Laisani Tabuakuro has asked the court for a prison sentence and a higher tariff for Bainimarama and Qiliho while defence counsel, Devanesh Sharma asked that the Magistrates Court decision be upheld and if a conviction is entered, the court should show mercy and give a suspended sentence.

Stay with us for updates from the courthouse.