Matavou says investigations into USP closed in January last year

Former Police Director of Intelligence, Investigations and Prosecutions, Biu Matavou has confirmed in the trial of former Prime Minister Voreqe Bainimarama and suspended Police Commissioner Sitiveni Qiliho that investigations into USP closed on 6th January, 2022.

While responding to questions by defence lawyer Devanesh Sharma during cross examination, Matavou says he had retired by January, 2022 but by looking at the docket on investigations into USP, he can confirm that investigations closed on 6th January, 2022.

He says the Director CID and upon the advice of the DPP have the authority to close an investigation.

Matavou also agreed that in a letter to USP Staff Union General Secretary, Ilima Finiasi on 25th, August, 2020 regarding progress on police investigation and Finiasi’s letter to the then Acting Police Commissioner Rusiate Tudravu, Matavou had advised that the investigation file is with the Director of CID Serupepeli Neiko and the DPP after perusal has advised further investigations to be done.

The letter reads that the investigation team at the CID Headquarters are currently working on the areas that the DPP has highlighted.

While responding to questions by Acting DPP, Ratu David Toganivalu, Matavou says he received a call from Tudravu after his meeting with the National Security Council on 17th September 2020 and told him in the iTaukei language that Tudravu has been advised the investigation is stopped.

Matavou says he asked him who stopped it and Tudravu had said it was the former Prime Minister. He further says he was disappointed at the decision of the National Security Council as the investigations were in the final stages.

The retired police officer says he then called the Director CID and advised him of the decision of the National Security Council.

During cross examination, Matavou confirmed that his written statement relating to these investigations were incorrect and he did not write a letter to the Director CID but had called him and there were no minutes recorded in the USP investigation file by him on the National Security Council’s decision.

Bainimarama is charged with a count of attempt to pervert the course of justice while Qiliho is charged with a count of abuse of office.

It is alleged that 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.

It is alleged 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 arbitrary act of prejudicial to the rights to USP.

Bainimarama and Qiliho are represented by R Patel Lawyers Devanesh Sharma and Gul Fatima while Acting Director of Public Prosecutions, Ratu David Toganivalu is representing the State.

The trial continues.