The suspended Commissioner of Police, Sitiveni Qiliho, has submitted his resignation, paving the way for the selection of a new police chief. The Constitutional Offices Commission (COC) received his resignation last Thursday, although the reasons behind his departure are not yet known.
Qiliho was suspended on January 27, 2023, by President Ratu Willame Katonivere upon the COC’s recommendation, due to allegations of misconduct. He continued to receive his full salary while awaiting a tribunal hearing regarding these allegations.
On May 9, 2023, Qiliho was found guilty 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 related to his order to stop an investigation into a matter involving the University of the South Pacific from July 2020.
Despite his conviction, the COC was preparing to conduct a tribunal to examine the initial misconduct allegations, which were distinct from the charges leading to his conviction. Additionally, Qiliho faces a separate charge of abuse of office pending in court.
Graham Leung, the Attorney-General and a member of the COC, confirmed that Qiliho’s resignation makes the tribunal unnecessary. “Mr. Qiliho’s resignation creates a vacancy in the substantive position, allowing us to move forward with advertising the role,” Leung stated. “We couldn’t proceed earlier as he was still the substantive post holder despite his conviction.”
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 officials Luke Navela and Rusiate Tudravu, and Acting Commissioner of Police Juki Fong-Chew.