The Republic of Fiji Military Forces (RFMF) has initiated an internal investigation into the theft of a pistol from its armory 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, was unlawfully taken by an air-conditioning technician, Sitiveni Tavakece, from Solovi, Nadi. He was subsequently charged and sentenced to prison after pleading guilty to the crime.
The pistol has since been recovered and returned to the RFMF. A spokesperson for the RFMF stated that they will hold accountable those responsible for the security breach. Additionally, it was noted that other items were reported missing from the camp. The spokesperson confirmed that an internal investigation is ongoing to clarify the circumstances surrounding the incident, assuring the public that it is an isolated event.
Minister for Home Affairs and Immigration Pio Tikoduadua emphasized that all RFMF firearms are securely stored and that the incident raises concerns about public safety. He assured that measures are being implemented to prevent a recurrence and acknowledged the unfortunate occurrence while expressing commitment to improving security procedures.
In a separate proceeding, Tavakece was sentenced to nine months and 19 days in prison for illegally removing the pistol and was also fined $1,000 for possessing an unlicensed firearm. The court heard that he unlawfully appropriated the pistol and three souvenir medals belonging to the RFMF, valued at $1,500.
The Beretta M9 pistol, which was the focus of this incident, is a semi-automatic weapon that has been used by the U.S. Armed Forces since its adoption in 1985. It is designed for both right and left-handed shooters and uses a 15-round magazine.