Sitiveni Qiliho, the former police commissioner who is currently incarcerated for abuse of office, is now facing an investigation related to comments he made following the 2022 General Election. The inquiry is centered around statements he made in December 2022, which included claims of instability and violence in the aftermath of the polls.
Assistant Commissioner of Police Crime Mesake Waqa confirmed to Fiji Sun that the investigation will focus on Qiliho’s remarks about unsubstantiated 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 said.
On December 21, 2022, shortly after the General Election, Qiliho reported that police had received unverified reports of stoning incidents, although the individuals involved chose not to file official complaints. Following this, he instructed the Divisional Crime Officer for the North to conduct a detailed investigation into vandalism reports in the area.
The next day, December 22, Qiliho stated that the Republic of Fiji Military Forces (RFMF) would aid the police in maintaining law and order due to rising threats against minority groups after the election results. He raised alarms about the increasing racial tensions, mentioning that an agreement had been made for RFMF personnel to support police operations.
However, tensions heightened when former Police Chief of Operations Abdul Khan resigned on December 23, citing personal reasons. Reports suggest that Khan’s departure was connected to disagreements over the decision to involve the RFMF in police activities.
Recently, RFMF Commander Major-General Ro Jone Kalouniwai addressed the volatile situation following the 2022 elections in a media interview, acknowledging the tensions that could have threatened the stability of the RFMF. He emphasized efforts to engage the RFMF while reaffirming their commitment to preventing further unrest.