Former Prime Minister Voreqe Bainimarama has been found guilty of making an unwarranted demand with menace, while former Police Commissioner Sitiveni Qiliho has been acquitted of two counts of abuse of office.
High Court judge Justice Thushara Rajasinghe delivered the ruling this hour in Suva following a high-profile trial that drew national attention.
Bainimarama was convicted for offences committed between May 21 and August 18, 2021, when he directed then Acting Police Commissioner Rusiate Tudravu to terminate the services of two police officers — Sergeant Penieli Ratei and Constable Tomasi Naulu.
According to the judgment, Bainimarama threatened that Tudravu would have to resign if he failed to dismiss the officers, amounting to a demand with menace under the law.
Meanwhile, Qiliho was found not guilty on two charges of abuse of office. He was accused of reviewing and overturning a disciplinary decision by Mr Tudravu, but the court found insufficient evidence to convict him.
The prosecution team was led by Assistant Director of Public Prosecutions Laisani Tabuakuro and Senior State lawyer Pooja Mishra. The defence was represented by Devanesh Sharma and Gul Fatima of R Patel Lawyers.
Sentencing for the former Prime Minister is expected at a later date.
