The Fiji Court of Appeal will continue to hear the bail application pending appeal for former Police Commissioner Sitiveni Qiliho. Currently serving a one-year sentence, Qiliho appeared before Justice Chandana Prematilaka at the Veiuto Court Complex, accompanied by former Prime Minister Frank Bainimarama, who was granted early release last month.
Both individuals were convicted by the High Court in Suva on March 14 this year. During the court proceedings, their attorney, Devanesh Sharma, indicated that they were withdrawing a motion regarding their conviction and sentencing that had been submitted on April 23 of the previous year. This motion was initially aimed at seeking a stay on their sentencing in the Court of Appeal, but legal proceedings continued regardless.
Attorney Sharma expressed his belief that following Bainimarama’s early release, Qiliho would likely also achieve the same outcome. Justice Prematilaka provided a timeframe of 21 days for the applicants to submit their arguments regarding bail pending appeal. Subsequently, the State will have until January 21 to respond, and Sharma will have until January 28 to reply to that response. The next court date is set for January 30.
This ongoing legal situation opens a window for both Qiliho and Bainimarama to seek relief, highlighting the complexities and potential changes within the legal system in Fiji. It also underscores a possible scenario where the justice system reevaluates past convictions, paving the way for future discussions on legal reform and fairness in sentencing. With both men having been prominent figures in Fiji, their cases could also spark broader conversations about accountability and governance in the region.
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