The Republic of Fiji Military Forces (RFMF) has initiated an internal inquiry following the unauthorized removal of a pistol from its armory at the Blackrock Peacekeeping and Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief Camp in Nadi on September 25. The firearm, identified as a U.S. 9mm M9-BERETTA USA, was allegedly taken without permission by an air-conditioning technician named Sitiveni Tavakece from Solovi, Nadi.
Tavakece was subsequently prosecuted and sentenced to imprisonment by the Nadi Magistrate’s Court after he admitted to the theft. The stolen pistol has been recovered and returned to the RFMF.
An RFMF spokesperson confirmed that additional items were also reported missing from the camp aside from the pistol. The spokesperson emphasized the RFMF’s commitment to addressing the security breach and assured the public that this incident is isolated and does not warrant alarm.
Minister for Home Affairs and Immigration Pio Tikoduadua reassured the community that all RFMF weapons are securely stored. He acknowledged the implications of such incidents on public safety and stated that comprehensive measures have been implemented to prevent recurrence.
In related news, the Nadi Magistrate’s Court sentenced Tavakece, 24, to nine months and 19 days in jail for the illegal removal of the pistol. He faced charges for two counts of theft and one count of possession of a firearm without a license, to which he pleaded guilty. The court noted that Tavakece was found in unlawful possession of the firearm, which is valued at $1,500, along with three souvenir medals belonging to the RFMF. In addition to the prison sentence, he was fined $1,000 for the charges.
The Beretta M9, a semi-automatic pistol employed by the United States Armed Forces, was officially adopted by the U.S military as their service pistol in 1985. It features a short recoil design and uses a 15-round magazine.