The Republic of Fiji Military Forces (RFMF) has begun an internal investigation into the circumstances surrounding the disappearance of a pistol from its armor at the Blackrock Peacekeeping and Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief Camp in Nadi, which occurred on September 25.
The missing firearm, identified as a U.S. 9mm M9-BERETTA USA – 65490, was allegedly taken from the camp without authorization by an air-conditioning technician, Sitiveni Tavakece, who resides in Solovi, Nadi. Tavakece has since been prosecuted and sentenced to prison by the Nadi Magistrate’s Court after admitting guilt to the theft.
The pistol has been recovered and returned to the RFMF. A spokesperson for the military confirmed that the RFMF will take appropriate action against those responsible for the breach of security. In addition to the pistol, other items were also reported missing from the camp.
“The RFMF acknowledges the incident regarding the missing pistol and has notified the Police,” the spokesperson stated. “We are conducting an internal investigation to determine the facts surrounding this case and will hold those involved accountable. We assure the public that this is an isolated occurrence, and there is no cause for alarm.”
In a separate statement, Minister for Home Affairs and Immigration Pio Tikoduadua reassured the public that all RFMF firearms are securely stored. He acknowledged the incident raised concerns about public safety but emphasized that measures are being implemented to prevent future occurrences. “Let me reassure the public that the RFMF recognizes this issue. While it is regrettable, we are working on improving our processes to ensure it does not happen again,” he said.
Last Friday, Tavakece, now 24, was sentenced to nine months and 19 days in prison for unlawfully removing the pistol. He appeared before Magistrate Semi Babitu, facing charges of two counts of theft and one count of unlawful possession of a firearm. He admitted guilt to all three charges, having been found with a pistol valued at $1500 and three souvenir medals belonging to the RFMF. In addition to the prison sentence, he was also fined $1000 for his offenses.
The Beretta M9 is a semi-automatic pistol utilized by the United States Armed Forces since its adoption in 1985. It operates as a short recoil, semi-automatic weapon and is designed to accommodate both right- and left-handed shooters with a 15-round magazine.