Sitiveni Qiliho, the former police commissioner who is currently serving a sentence for abuse of office, is now being investigated for remarks he made following the 2022 General Election. The investigation centers on statements he made in December 2022 relating to alleged violence and instability after the elections.
Assistant Commissioner of Police Crime Mesake Waqa confirmed to local media that the allegations involve Qiliho’s claims regarding unverified incidents of stoning and vandalism. “We confirm that there is an investigation regarding the statements issued about the stoning incident and vandalism,” ACP Waqa stated.
On December 21, 2022, just a week post-election, Qiliho mentioned that police had received unverified reports of stoning incidents, despite the fact that the callers had not filed official reports. He subsequently instructed the Divisional Crime Officer for the North to carry out a detailed investigation into the reports of vandalism in that area.
The next day, December 22, Qiliho declared that the Republic of Fiji Military Forces (RFMF) would assist the police in managing law and order due to rising threats against minority groups following the election results. He voiced concerns about escalating racial tensions and indicated that an agreement had been made for RFMF personnel to support police efforts.
Tensions increased when former Police Chief of Operations Abdul Khan resigned on December 23, citing personal reasons. Sources suggested that Khan’s resignation was related to disagreements over the decision to involve the RFMF in police operations.
RFMF Commander Major-General Ro Jone Kalouniwai recently addressed the challenging circumstances following the 2022 elections in an interview, recognizing the tension that could have threatened the stability of the RFMF. He emphasized the RFMF’s commitment to preventing any further unrest.