Tudravu says when he resigned, Qiliho told him that he should have just listened to the former PM

Commissioner of Police Rusiate Tudravu has revealed in the Suva High Court that when he tendered in his resignation to the former Commissioner Sitiveni Qiliho, the former COMPOL told him that he should have just listened to the directive of the former Prime Minister, Voreqe Bainimarama.

While taking the stand as a prosecution witness today in the trial of Bainimarama and Qiliho who allegedly made unwarranted demands to him in 2021 as the then Acting Police Commissioner to terminate the employment of two police officers from the Police Force, Tudravu said he had also pleaded to Bainimarama to give him a few months and then resign because his contract as the Deputy Commissioner of Police was supposed to end on the 14th of December, 2021.

He also says Qiliho was open to them, as he would tell them that some of the directives were from the former Prime Minister.

Tudravu, who has been with the Police Force for more than 40 years, says the environment they were working in during that time was not good, and anyone who goes against the directives would be terminated.

When asked if any of the officers raised concerns because of this, Tudravu told the High Court that there was fear within officers, as he had seen what happened to those who went against directives.

Tudravu also revealed that his appointment as Acting Commissioner of Police in 2021 was from the then President Jioji Konrote, on the advice of the Prime Minister and the Constitutional Offices Commission.

Tudravu has also told the High Court that he was threatened by Voreqe Bainimarama that if he does not sack Sergeant Penieli Ratei and Police Constable Tomasi Naulu from the Fiji Police Force, he should tender in his resignation.

He said he tendered in his resignation to uphold the integrity of the institution and the two men.

He said it was after his resignation when he heard that the two men were removed from the Force.

Tudravu says political interference is not good for the institution and also not a good reason to terminate someone.

He also revealed that within the Police Force, Jonacani Bainimarama was well known as a drug carrier and he knew Jonacani because he was caught with drugs in Lami.

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 of Ratei and Naulu.