Former Prime Minister Voreqe Bainimarama and former Police Commissioner Sitiveni Qiliho are set to appear again in the Suva Magistrate’s Court on March 10 for a pretrial conference in relation to charges of abuse of office. They previously appeared in court before Magistrate Jeremaia Savou, where they faced serious allegations concerning their conduct while in office.
Bainimarama has been charged with one count of making unwarranted demands as a public official. It is alleged that between May 21 and August 18, 2021, he pressured former Acting Commissioner of Police Rusiate Tudravu to either terminate the employment of two police officers—Sergeant Penieli Ratei and Constable Tomasi Naulu—or resign himself if he did not comply.
Meanwhile, Qiliho is facing two counts of abuse of office. Allegedly, during the same timeframe, he overrode Tudravu’s disciplinary decisions against Ratei and Naulu, which originally involved relatively minor penalties – fines equivalent to working days. Instead of adhering to these decisions, Qiliho is accused of terminating their employment altogether.
The defendants have pleaded not guilty to their respective charges, and a trial date has been scheduled from June 2 to July 11, 2025, during which around 30 witnesses are expected to testify. This case has garnered considerable public attention and has sparked critical discussions about accountability and ethics within Fiji’s public service sector.
As the legal proceedings unfold, there is a collective hope for a fair trial that will uphold the rule of law and contribute positively to ethical governance discussions in the country. The importance of transparency and accountability in public office is underlined by this case, and many are optimistic that it may help reinforce public trust in governmental institutions while addressing the ethical responsibilities of those in power.
Comments