The suspended Commissioner of Police, Sitiveni Qiliho, has submitted his resignation, paving the way for the appointment of a new police chief.
The Constitutional Offices Commission (COC) accepted Qiliho’s resignation last Thursday, although the reasons for his departure remain unclear. Qiliho was suspended on January 27, 2023, by President Ratu Willame Katonivere following COC’s advice, as he faced allegations of misconduct.
While awaiting a tribunal hearing, Qiliho continued to receive his full salary. On May 9, 2023, he was convicted and sentenced to two years in prison for abuse of office, alongside former Prime Minister Voreqe Bainimarama. Bainimarama was charged with attempting to obstruct justice, while Qiliho’s conviction was linked to orders he issued to cease an investigation into an issue at the University of the South Pacific in July 2020.
Despite the conviction, the COC was preparing to move forward with a tribunal focused on the original misconduct allegations, which were distinct from the charges leading to his conviction. Additionally, Qiliho still faces another separate abuse of office charge in court.
Attorney-General and COC member Graham Leung stated that Qiliho’s resignation makes the tribunal no longer necessary. “Mr. Qiliho’s resignation creates a vacancy in the substantive position, allowing us to move forward with advertising the role,” Leung noted. “We couldn’t proceed earlier as he was still the substantive post holder despite his conviction.”
Potential candidates for the role of Commissioner of Police include Unaisi Vuniwaqa, the United Nations Assistant Secretary-General for Safety and Security, former senior police officers Luke Navela and Rusiate Tudravu, and Acting Commissioner of Police Juki Fong-Chew.