Sitiveni Qiliho, the former police commissioner who is currently serving a prison sentence for abuse of office, is now facing an investigation over comments he made following the 2022 General Election.
The inquiry is centered on statements he made in December 2022 concerning alleged instability and violence in the aftermath of the polls. Assistant Commissioner of Police Crime Mesake Waqa confirmed to local media that the allegations pertain to Qiliho’s remarks about unverified reports of stoning incidents 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 one week after the election, Qiliho reported that the police had received unconfirmed reports of stoning, although the individuals making these claims did not file official reports. He then instructed the Divisional Crime Officer for the North to investigate the reports of vandalism thoroughly.
The following day, December 22, Qiliho announced that the Republic of Fiji Military Forces (RFMF) would be assisting the police in maintaining law and order due to a rise in threats against minority groups following the election results. He expressed concern about increasing racial tension and confirmed that an agreement had been reached for RFMF personnel to aid police efforts.
However, the situation took a turn when former Police Chief of Operations Abdul Khan resigned on December 23, stating personal reasons for his departure. Reports suggest that Khan’s resignation was associated with disagreements over the involvement of the RFMF in police operations.
RFMF Commander Major-General Ro Jone Kalouniwai recently addressed the tension following the 2022 elections in a media interview, recognizing the potentially destabilizing situation for the RFMF. He emphasized the efforts to involve the RFMF while reiterating their commitment to maintaining peace and preventing further unrest.