Sitiveni Qiliho, the former police commissioner who is currently imprisoned for abuse of office, is now facing an investigation regarding statements he made after the 2022 General Election. The inquiry centers on comments he made in December 2022 concerning alleged instability and violence in the aftermath of the election.
Assistant Commissioner of Police Crime Mesake Waqa confirmed that the allegations are related to Qiliho’s claims about unverified reports of stoning incidents and vandalism. “We confirm that there is an investigation regarding the statement issued alleging the stoning incident and vandalism,” ACP Waqa stated.
On December 21, 2022, just a week after the General Election, Qiliho reported that the police had received unconfirmed reports of stoning incidents, although the callers did not file official reports. He subsequently instructed the Divisional Crime Officer for the North to conduct a comprehensive investigation into the reports of vandalism in that area.
The following day, December 22, Qiliho announced that the Republic of Fiji Military Forces (RFMF) would assist the police in maintaining law and order due to rising threats against minority groups following the election results. In his statement, Qiliho expressed his concerns about increasing racial tensions and mentioned an agreement for RFMF personnel to support police efforts.
The situation intensified when former Police chief of operations Abdul Khan resigned from his position on December 23, citing personal reasons. Sources suggest that Khan’s resignation was connected to disagreements over the decision to involve the RFMF in police operations.
RFMF Commander Major-General Ro Jone Kalouniwai recently addressed the fragile situation following the 2022 elections in a media interview, acknowledging the tension that could have threatened the stability of the RFMF. He emphasized the efforts made to engage the RFMF while affirming their commitment to preventing any further unrest.