Sitiveni Qiliho, the suspended Commissioner of Police, has officially resigned, paving the way for a new appointment in the position. The Constitutional Offices Commission (COC) received his resignation last Thursday, although the specifics behind his choice remain undisclosed.
Qiliho was suspended on January 27, 2023, by President Ratu Willame Katonivere based on advice from the COC and had been involved in allegations of misconduct. Throughout the duration of his suspension, he continued to receive his full salary while awaiting a tribunal hearing.
On May 9, 2023, he was found guilty and sentenced to two years in prison for abuse of office, a ruling that also involved former Prime Minister Voreqe Bainimarama, who faced charges related to attempting to hinder justice. The abuse of office charges against Qiliho were linked to his directives that halted an investigation concerning the University of the South Pacific in July 2020.
Despite his conviction, the COC was still in the process of scheduling a tribunal to address the earlier misconduct allegations, separate from those that led to his conviction. Additionally, Qiliho is facing another charge of abuse of office that is ongoing in court.
Attorney-General and COC member Graham Leung stated that Qiliho’s resignation eliminates the need for the tribunal. He noted that the resignation creates a vacancy in the position, allowing the process for advertising the role to commence.
Potential candidates for the Commissioner of Police position include Unaisi Vuniwaqa, the United Nations Assistant Secretary-General for Safety and Security, as well as former senior police officers Luke Navela and Rusiate Tudravu, and Acting Commissioner of Police Juki Fong-Chew.