The Republic of Fiji Military Forces (RFMF) has initiated an internal investigation regarding the disappearance of a pistol from the Blackrock Peacekeeping and Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief Camp in Nadi on September 25.
The firearm, identified as a U.S. 9mm Beretta M9, was reportedly taken from the camp without authorization by air-conditioning technician Sitiveni Tavakece, a resident of Solovi in Nadi. He was later prosecuted and sentenced to prison by the Nadi Magistrate’s Court after pleading guilty to the theft.
The pistol has since been recovered and returned to the RFMF. A spokesperson for the RFMF stated that they would hold accountable those involved in the security breach and confirmed that other items had also been reported missing from the camp.
“The RFMF acknowledges the incident involving the missing pistol as reported to the Police,” the spokesperson remarked. They assured that a thorough internal investigation is underway to clarify the details surrounding the weapon’s disappearance. The spokesperson emphasized that this appears to be an isolated incident and reassured the public that there is no cause for alarm.
In response to the incident, Minister for Home Affairs and Immigration Pio Tikoduadua reassured citizens that all RFMF arms are securely stored in safe armories. He recognized the serious implications when such arms go missing and stated that all necessary measures have been implemented to prevent future occurrences.
“The RFMF understands the gravity of the situation,” Tikoduadua said. “It is regrettable that it happened, and we are correcting the processes to ensure it does not happen again.”
Regarding the legal proceedings, the Nadi Magistrate’s Court sentenced Tavakece, 24, to nine months and 19 days in prison for removing the pistol unlawfully. He faced charges for two counts of theft and one count of possession of arms without a license, to which he pleaded guilty. The court also noted that he had taken a pistol valued at $1,500 and three souvenir medals belonging to the RFMF.
The Beretta M9, the stolen pistol, is noted for being a semi-automatic weapon used by the United States Armed Forces since its adoption in 1985. It features a short recoil and a double-action mechanism, accommodating a 15-round magazine with options for right or left-handed shooters.