Seruiratu stresses the PM has no authority to terminate police officers

Opposition Leader and former Minister for Defence, Inia Seruiratu says the Prime Minister has no authority to terminate police officers

Seruiratu took the stand as the first prosecution witness in the trial of former Prime Minister Voreqe Bainimarama and former Police Commissioner Sitiveni Qiliho, who are accused of making unwarranted demands to dismiss two police officers.

He confirms the hiring and termination of police officers fall under the authority of the Commissioner of the Fiji Police Force.

When the Assistant DPP, Laisani Tabuakuro asked how the then Prime Minister Bainimarama communicated with his Ministers, Seruiratu said it was through cabinet meetings, social gatherings and calls.

He says he knew both Bainimarama and Qiliho from his time in the Republic of Fiji Military Forces.

When asked if Bainimarama or Qiliho had communicated anything about Bainimarama’s brother, Seruiratu denied it.

He says that only the then Acting Police Commissioner, Rusiate Tudravu, had raised concerns that his relationship with Bainimarama was not good.

Seruiratu says this tension stemmed from an incident where two police officers took a photo of Bainimarama’s brother while he was engaged in some work.

He also confirms that Tudravu assumed the Acting Commissioner of Police role when Qiliho left for overseas studies.

Seruiratu says terminating officers was not his responsibility, and if he were to do so, it would have been unlawful as it was outside his powers as a Minister.

He agreed that the Prime Minister also has no authority to terminate police officers.

During cross-examination, defence counsel Devanesh Sharma asked if Tudravu had followed up on the concern he raised.

Seruiratu replied that no further discussion took place.

There was also a dispute between Suva High Court Judge Justice Thushara Rajasinghe and Tabuakuro regarding how the agreed facts were submitted.

Justice Rajasinghe says the agreed facts should be tendered through a proper application, while the State argued that once the agreed facts are signed by the court, they are accepted as evidence.

The trial is scheduled to conclude on the 29th of August.

The two allegedly made unwarranted demands to the then Acting Police Commissioner Rusiate Tudravu, to terminate the employment of two police officers from the Fiji Police Force.

Bainimarama is charged with one count of unwarranted demand made by a public official while Qiliho is charged with two counts of abuse of office.

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 menace 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.