The Republic of Fiji Military Forces (RFMF) has initiated an internal investigation to determine the circumstances surrounding the theft of a pistol from its armory located at the Blackrock Peacekeeping and Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief Camp in Nadi on September 25. The firearm in question is believed to be a U.S. 9mm M9 Beretta.
The weapon was taken without authorization by an air-conditioning technician, Sitiveni Tavakece, from Solovi, Nadi. Tavakece has since been prosecuted and sentenced to jail after pleading guilty to the theft in the Nadi Magistrate’s Court. The stolen pistol has been returned to the RFMF.
An RFMF spokesperson stated that the military would hold accountable those responsible for the security breach. Additionally, it was confirmed that other items were also reported missing from the camp. The spokesperson emphasized that the incident had been acknowledged and that an investigation is underway to uncover the facts behind the disappearance. They reassured the public that this is an isolated incident and there is no need for alarm.
Minister for Home Affairs and Immigration Pio Tikoduadua has addressed public concerns regarding the security of RFMF arms, insisting that all firearms are stored in secure armories. He acknowledged the seriousness of the situation, affirming that measures would be implemented to prevent such incidents from occurring again.
Last Friday, Tavakece was sentenced to nine months and 19 days in prison. He faced charges of theft and illegal possession of arms and pleaded guilty to three counts. The court learned that he had unlawfully removed a pistol valued at $1,500 along with three souvenir medals belonging to the RFMF. In addition to his prison sentence, he was fined $1,000 for one of the charges.
The Beretta M9, a semi-automatic pistol utilized by the United States Armed Forces, was adopted as the military’s service pistol back in 1985. It features a short recoil, is semi-automatic, and uses a 15-round staggered box magazine, accommodating both right and left-handed users.