The trial of former Prime Minister Voreqe Bainimarama and former Police Commissioner Sitiveni Qiliho on charges of inciting to mutiny will begin on April 5th next year and is expected to run for a month.
Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions counsel Meli Vosawale says the prosecution will require two weeks to present its witnesses.
He says the prosecution will not rely on the caution interviews as there are no confessions. However, it will rely on direct evidence and extracted data from the accused’s devices.
Counsel for Bainimarama and Qiliho, Devanesh Sharma says their witnesses will include Bainimarama, Qiliho and three others.
He says they will require more than two weeks for the prosecution witnesses and their cross-examination.
Sharma also informed the court that one of Qiliho’s sureties has passed away and provided a substitute.
Vosawale had no objection, and the substitute surety was allowed.
High Court Judge Justice Daniel Goundar also warned Bainimarama and Qiliho that they are on bail and, if they fail to appear in court, their trial will continue in their absence.
The pre-trial conference will be held on November 24th.
