“God is good.”
These were the words of former prime minister Voreqe Bainimarama amidst the various reactions and comments towards Magistrate Seini Puamau’s ruling in dishing out a non-custodial sentence for Mr Bainimarama and a fine of $1500 for suspended police commissioner Sitiveni Qiliho.
As he stepped out onto the veranda of the Magistrate Court in Suva, he waved to his supporters as they responded with cheers and claps.
Hugs, kisses, jokes and laughter followed as Mr Bainimarama met his supporters and thanked them for their prayers.
When asked how he felt, Mr Bainimarama responded with thumbs up and said: “God is good”.
Mrs Bainimarama when approached only smiled and waved her hands.
During the court proceedings, his supporters who sat behind the Fiji Times team softly sang the popular iTaukei song: ‘isa isa vulagi lasa dina’.
Police presence rose in numbers as mixed reactions came from the crowd. One of the supporters gave a thumbs up when he learnt that Mr Bainimarama received a non -custodial sentence.
To this, some men yelled at him and told him to shut up and sit down.
But all calmed down as police increased presence.
Two weeks ago the two were found guilty on the charges of one count of attempt to pervert the course of justice for Mr Bainimarama and one count of abuse of office for Mr Qiliho.
Acting Chief Justice Salesi Temo had overturned the initial accquital decision by Magistrate Puamau in October last year.
