Former prime minister and FijiFirst party leader Josaia Voreqe Bainimarama and suspended police commissioner Sitiveni Qiliho have been charged with offences relating to alleged abuse of office with regards to the unlawful termination of two police officers in 2021.
Fiji Police Assistant Commissioner Crime Mesake Waqa confirmed this in a statement issued this evening.
Mr Bainimarama has been charged with one count of unwarranted demands made by a public official contrary to Section 355 (a)(b)(i) and (c) (ii) of the Crimes Act 2009.
It is alleged that between May 21 and August 18, 2021, while being employed as a public official, Mr Bainimarama made an unwarranted demand with menaces of a former senior police officer to allegedly terminate the employment of other police officers.
“It is alleged that he used his official capacity as prime minister of the Republic of Fiji and was done with the intention of influencing the former senior official,” Mr Waqa said.
Mr Qiliho has been charged with one count of abuse of office, contrary to Section 139 of the Crimes Act 2009.
It is alleged that between August 5-18 (2021), while being employed in the civil service as the police commissioner, Mr Qiliho reviewed the disciplinary decision made by the senior officer, and terminated the employment of a police officer, in abuse of the authority of his office, an arbitrary act prejudicial to the rights of the officer.
Mr Qiliho faces an additional charge of abuse of office where it is alleged that during the same period, he also reviewed the disciplinary decision of another officer and terminated his employment that was an arbitrary act prejudicial to the rights of the officer.
Mr Waqa said both Mr Bainimarama and Mr Qiliho will be kept in custody at the Totogo Police Station tonight, and will be produced at the Suva Magistrates Court tomorrow.
Last week, police had charged Mr Bainimarama with abuse of office alleged to have been committed on September 13 in 2011; where he is alleged to have recklessly abused his position as the Minister of Finance by granting a waiver of tender process without lawful justification for Ministry of Health Tender CTN 66/2011 in violation of the Procurement Regulation 2010, which was an arbitrary act prejudicial to the rights of other bidders in CTN 66/2011.
The charges were sanctioned by the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions.
