Former Prime Minister Voreqe Bainimarama and former Police Commissioner Sitiveni Qiliho have pleaded not guilty in their inciting to mutiny case in the Suva High Court this morning.
They appeared before High Court Judge Justice Daniel Goundar this morning.
John Rabuku appeared for the State while the accused were represented by Devanesh Sharma and Gul Fatima.
While the counsel were attempting to fix a tentative trial date, Justice Goundar advised them that he may not be the Judge sitting for this case, so he is just confirming the pre-trial conference first.
They have been bailed by the High Court, under normal bail conditions.
It is alleged that Bainimarama between the 1st of January 2023 and the 31st of July 2023 in Suva, sent viber messages to Brigadier General Manoa Gadai in his attempt to incite him to take over command and overthrow the authority of the Commander of the Republic of Fiji Military Forces, Major General Jone Kalouniwai.
For the second count of inciting to mutiny, it is alleged that Bainimarama and Qiliho between the 1st of July 2023 to the 31st of July, 2023 jointly spoke to Lt Colonel Atunaisa Vakatale, Colonel Aseri Rokoura, Colonel Viliame Draunibaka and others, who were senior officers of RFMF in their joint attempt to incite the senior officers to unlawfully arrest and take over the authority of the Commander of the Republic of Fiji Military Forces, Major General Jone Kalouniwai.
They will reappear in court on 17th July.
