Former prime minister Voreqe Bainimarama and former police commissioner Sitiveni Qiliho pleaded not guilty on Tuesday to charges of inciting to mutiny in a case that alleges they plotted to undermine the command of the Republic of Fiji Military Forces. The pair appeared before Magistrate Yogesh Prasad in Suva Magistrate’s Court, where the prosecution signalled it will call a substantial witness list and the matter was adjourned to early May to set a trial date.
Prosecutors allege Bainimarama, between January 1 and July 31, 2023, sent Viber messages to Brigadier General Manoa Gadai in an attempt to induce him to assume command and overthrow the authority of RFMF Commander Major General Jone Kalouniwai. A second count charges that Bainimarama and Qiliho, between July 1 and 31, 2023, jointly spoke with senior officers — named in court documents as Lt Colonel Atunaisa Vakatale, Colonel Aseri Rokoura and Colonel Viliame Draunibaka, among others — with the aim of inciting them to unlawfully arrest and take over the commander’s authority.
State Counsel Luisa Latu told the court the State has provided full disclosures and will call 24 witnesses in the prosecution of the case. The court has adjourned the matter to May 6, when a trial timetable is expected to be set. The pleas and the size of the witness list mark the latest development in a high-profile prosecution that has attracted significant public and media attention.
The defendants previously made headlines in February when they were granted bail after being charged; Magistrate Yogesh Prasad imposed conditions at that time and the prosecution sought additional time to complete disclosure. Tuesday’s appearance follows that bail hearing and brings the case one step closer to a contested trial. By entering not guilty pleas, Bainimarama and Qiliho have signalled they will contest the State’s allegations in court.
The allegations hinge in part on electronic communications. Earlier reporting in this matter highlighted questions over digital forensic evidence, particularly the recovery and handling of Viber messages said to be central to the State’s case. Observers have noted that the admissibility and provenance of such messages could be a key battleground at trial, though the court record from Tuesday focused on the charges, witness numbers and procedural scheduling.
With the prosecution indicating a 24-witness case and a trial setting to be determined on May 6, the matter is moving from preliminary stages into a fuller evidentiary contest. Court watchers say the next appearances will likely flesh out the timetable for witness testimony and any pre-trial applications, with digital evidence and witness credibility expected to be focal points as the case advances.
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