The Republic of Fiji Military Forces (RFMF) has initiated an internal inquiry into 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 stolen firearm, identified as a U.S. 9mm M9-BERETTA, was reported to have been taken without authorization by an air-conditioning technician named Sitiveni Tavakece from Solovi, Nadi. Tavakece has since been convicted and sentenced to jail by the Nadi Magistrate’s Court after pleading guilty to the theft. The pistol has been returned to the RFMF.
An RFMF representative stated that measures would be taken against those responsible for the breach of security, confirming that additional items were also reported missing from the camp. The spokesperson reassured the public that this was an isolated incident and that there was no need for concern.
Minister for Home Affairs and Immigration Pio Tikoduadua guaranteed that all RFMF firearms are securely stored in designated armories. He acknowledged public concerns regarding safety, particularly given the circumstances of the theft, and assured that protocols are being reinforced to prevent a recurrence of such incidents.
Tavakece, 24, was sentenced to nine months and 19 days in prison after being charged with two counts of theft and one count of possession of a firearm without a license. The court determined that he had dishonestly taken a pistol valued at $1,500 and three souvenir medals belonging to the RFMF.
The Beretta M9, the weapon involved in this case, is a semi-automatic pistol utilized by the United States Armed Forces, adopted as their service pistol in 1985. It features a 15-round magazine and is designed to accommodate both right and left-handed users.