Former Prime Minister Voreqe Bainimarama and suspended Commissioner of Police Brigadier-General Sitiveni Qiliho will face trial in June next year on charges of abuse of office.
The Magistrates Court in Suva has scheduled a six-week trial from June 2 to July 11, 2025. Defence Counsel Davenesh Sharma stated that they plan to call 30 witnesses since there were no agreed facts presented.
A pre-trial conference is set for January 13, 2025.
Bainimarama has pleaded not guilty to one count of unwarranted demand made by a public official, while Qiliho has pleaded not guilty to two counts of abuse of office before Resident-Magistrate Jeremaia Savou.
It is alleged that between May 21 and August 18, 2021, while serving as a public official, Bainimarama demanded that Rusiate Tudravu terminate the employment of Sergeant Penieli Ratei and Police Constable Tomasi Naulu from the Fiji Police Force. If Tudravu did not comply, he was to resign. This demand was related to Bainimarama’s role as the Prime Minister of Fiji and was intended to influence Tudravu, who was Acting Commissioner of Police, in his official capacity.
Qiliho is accused of reviewing and overturning the disciplinary decision made by Rusiate Tudravu regarding Sergeant Penieli Ratei and Police Constable Tomasi Naulu. Between August 5 and 18, 2021, he allegedly terminated their employment from the Fiji Police Force, contrary to the initial disciplinary action of five paid working days, thereby abusing his authority in an act prejudicial to the rights of Ratei and Naulu.
The case will be mentioned again on January 13, 2025.