FORMER prime minister Voreqe Bainimarama testified yesterday that he did not coerce then acting police commissioner Rusiate Tudravu to step down if he failed to dismiss two officers who had taken a “mugshot” of his elder brother and shared it in a police Viber group chat on May 21, 2021.
Mr Bainimarama also denied sending Viber messages to Mr Tudravu on August 4, 2021, following his dissatisfaction with the disciplinary action taken against Sergeant Penieli Ratei and Constable Tomasi Naulu.
However, he acknowledged that he received a call from his brother, Jonacani, on May 22, who voiced his concerns and feelings of embarrassment, worried that his family and friends might perceive him as a drug suspect rather than a police informant.
He testified that he was unaware of the identities or ranks of the officers, or the Tribunal established on May 23 to investigate the two officers.
He also said if Mr Tudravu had an issue after resigning on August 5, 2021, why did he accompany him during his campaign and subsequently accepting the position of chairman of the Tailevu Provincial Council.
When he took the stand, former police commissioner Sitiveni Qiliho said upon his return to Fiji on July 24, 2021, he learned of the actions of the two officers, and was particularly struck by the leniency of the punishment given, as the officers’ actions were illegal under the Police Act, and the severity of the offence was downplayed.
He said Jonacani served as a police informant for the Narcotics Bureau.
The officers were then terminated on August 18 but they were reinstated in 2023.
The Assistant Director of Public Prosecutions will continue cross-examining Qiliho today.