The suspended Commissioner of Police, Sitiveni Qiliho, has resigned, paving the way for the appointment of a new police chief. The Constitutional Offices Commission (COC) received Qiliho’s resignation last Thursday, although the reasons for his departure are not yet clear.
Qiliho had been suspended on January 27, 2023, by President Ratu Willame Katonivere, following advice from the COC, amid allegations of misconduct. Throughout this period, he continued to receive his full salary while awaiting a tribunal hearing.
On May 9, 2023, he was convicted and sentenced to two years in prison for abuse of office, alongside former Prime Minister Voreqe Bainimarama, who was charged with attempting to pervert the course of justice. Qiliho’s conviction was linked to directives he issued to stop an investigation concerning a matter at the University of the South Pacific in July 2020.
Despite this conviction, the COC had been preparing a tribunal to address separate misconduct allegations against Qiliho. He is also facing additional abuse of office charges in court.
Graham Leung, Attorney-General and COC member, stated 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 explained. “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, as well as Acting Commissioner of Police Juki Fong-Chew.