The trial of former Prime Minister Voreqe Bainimarama and suspended Commissioner of Police Brigadier-General Sitiveni Qiliho on abuse of office charges is scheduled for June next year.
The Magistrates Court in Suva has set a six-week trial period, running from June 2 to July 11, 2025. According to Defence Counsel Davenesh Sharma, the defense plans to call 30 witnesses, as no agreed facts are present.
A pre-trial conference is set for January 13, 2025.
Bainimarama pleaded not guilty to one count of unwarranted demand made by a public official. Qiliho 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, Bainimarama, then a public official, demanded Rusiate Tudravu to terminate the employment of Sergeant Penieli Ratei and Police Constable Tomasi Naulu from the Fiji Police Force. He reportedly stated he would resign if the officers were not terminated.
The demand was allegedly connected to Bainimarama’s role as Prime Minister and aimed to influence Tudravu, the Acting Commissioner of Police, in his official duties.
Qiliho is accused of reviewing and reversing a disciplinary decision by Tudravu against Ratei and Naulu between August 5 and August 18, 2021. Instead of the original penalty of five equivalent paid working days, Qiliho allegedly terminated their employment, an act deemed arbitrary and prejudicial to the officers’ rights.
The case will be mentioned again on January 13, 2025.