Sitiveni Qiliho, the former police commissioner currently serving a sentence for abuse of office, is now facing an investigation due to comments he made after the 2022 General Election. The investigation centers on his statements made in December 2022, where he claimed there were issues of instability and violence following the elections.
Assistant Commissioner of Police Crime Mesake Waqa confirmed to Fiji Sun that the allegations pertain to Qiliho’s claims regarding unverified reports of stoning incidents and vandalism. Waqa stated, “We confirm that there is an investigation regarding the statement issued alleging the stoning incident and vandalism.”
On December 21, 2022, shortly after the General Election, Qiliho reported unconfirmed claims of stoning incidents to the police, although those who called did not file official complaints. He subsequently directed the Divisional Crime Officer for the North to conduct a thorough investigation into vandalism reports in the area.
The following day, 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 after the election results. He expressed concern about increasing racial tension and confirmed that an agreement was made for RFMF personnel to support police operations.
However, the situation escalated when former Police Chief of Operations Abdul Khan resigned on December 23 for personal reasons. Reports suggest that Khan’s resignation was connected to disagreements over the decision to involve the RFMF in police matters.
RFMF Commander Major-General Ro Jone Kalouniwai recently addressed the tense situation following the 2022 elections in a media interview, acknowledging the potential instability within the RFMF. He emphasized their commitment to preventing any further unrest while discussing their attempts to collaborate with the police.