Sitiveni Qiliho, the former police commissioner currently serving a sentence for abuse of office, is now facing an investigation regarding comments he made after the 2022 General Election. The inquiry is centered on allegations he brought forward in December 2022 about possible instability and violence following the election.
Assistant Commissioner of Police Crime, Mesake Waqa, confirmed to Fiji Sun that the investigation is specifically looking into Qiliho’s claims about unverified incidents of stoning and vandalism. “We confirm that there is an investigation regarding the statement issued alleging the stoning incident and vandalism,” ACP Waqa stated.
On December 21, 2022, just a week after the elections, Qiliho announced that police had received unconfirmed reports of stoning incidents but noted that the individuals who contacted them did not file official reports. He directed the Divisional Crime Officer for the North to carry out a thorough investigation into the reports of vandalism in that area.
The next day, December 22, Qiliho revealed that the Republic of Fiji Military Forces (RFMF) would support the police in maintaining law and order due to increasing threats against minority groups following the election results. In his remarks, Qiliho voiced his concerns regarding rising racial tensions and noted that an agreement was made for RFMF personnel to assist police efforts.
The situation intensified when former Police Chief of Operations Abdul Khan resigned from his role on December 23, citing personal reasons. Sources suggest that Khan’s resignation was tied to disagreements over the involvement of the RFMF in police operations.
Recently, RFMF Commander Major-General Ro Jone Kalouniwai addressed the precarious situation following the 2022 elections in a media interview, acknowledging the tensions that could have threatened the stability of the RFMF. He emphasized their commitment to preventing further unrest while detailing efforts to involve the RFMF in these situations.