Sitiveni Qiliho, the former police commissioner currently serving a prison sentence for abuse of office, is now being investigated for remarks made following the 2022 General Election. The inquiry is focused on comments he made in December 2022, which alleged instability and violence after the election.
Assistant Commissioner of Police Crime Mesake Waqa confirmed to Fiji Sun that the allegations pertain to Qiliho’s statements about unverified reports of stoning incidents and vandalism, which are now under review. “We confirm that there is an investigation regarding the statement issued alleging the stoning incident and vandalism,” ACP Waqa stated.
On December 21, 2022, a week after the election, Qiliho reported that police had received unverified reports of stoning incidents, although the callers did not file official complaints. He subsequently ordered the Divisional Crime Officer for the North to thoroughly investigate reports of vandalism in the area.
The day after, on December 22, Qiliho announced that the Republic of Fiji Military Forces (RFMF) would assist the police in maintaining law and order due to rising threats against minority groups following the election results. In his statement, Qiliho expressed concerns about increasing racial tension and noted that an agreement had been reached for RFMF personnel to support police efforts.
The situation intensified when former police chief of operations Abdul Khan resigned on December 23, citing personal reasons. Sources suggest that his resignation was linked to disagreements over involving the RFMF in police operations.
RFMF Commander Major-General Ro Jone Kalouniwai recently addressed the tense situation following the 2022 elections in a media interview, acknowledging the tensions that could have jeopardized the RFMF. He emphasized the efforts to engage the RFMF while reaffirming their commitment to preventing further unrest.