The trial of former Prime Minister Voreqe Bainimarama and suspended Commissioner of Police Brigadier-General Sitiveni Qiliho, who face abuse of office charges, is scheduled for June next year.
The Magistrates Court in Suva has set the trial dates from 2 June to 11 July 2025, with a pre-trial conference set for 13 January 2025. Defense Counsel Davenesh Sharma stated that they plan to call 30 witnesses as there were no agreed facts in the case.
Bainimarama and Qiliho both pleaded not guilty before Resident Magistrate Jeremaia Savou. Bainimarama is charged with one count of making an unwarranted demand as a public official, while Qiliho faces two counts of abuse of office.
The allegations against Bainimarama involve an incident between 21 May 2021 and 18 August 2021, during which he allegedly 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, Bainimarama allegedly threatened to resign. These demands were reportedly made in Bainimarama’s capacity as the Prime Minister to influence Tudravu in his official duties as Acting Commissioner of Police.
Qiliho is accused of reviewing and overturning a disciplinary decision made by Acting Commissioner of Police Rusiate Tudravu between 5 August and 18 August 2021. Tudravu had initially decided on a disciplinary action of five equivalent paid working days for Ratei and Naulu. However, Qiliho allegedly terminated their employment, an action deemed arbitrary and prejudicial to the rights of the officers.
The case will be brought up again on 13 January 2025 for another mention.