The Australian Federal Police has agreed to assist in the process of extracting data from former prime minister Voreqe Bainimarama’s iPhone, which he used in 2021.
Assistant Director of Public Prosecutions Laisani Tabuakuro told the High Court in Suva an AFP technician would arrive at the end of the week to help the police and the State with its advanced technology.
Ms Tabuakuro told trial judge Justice Thushara Rajasinghe that previous attempts to extract data had been unsuccessful, partly because the licence for the extraction machine had expired, necessitating a three-week renewal period.
Mr Bainimarama is charged with making unwarranted demands between May 21 and August 18, 2021. He is accused of directing the then acting police commissioner Rusiate Tudravu to terminate the services of Sergeant Penieli Ratei and Constable Tomasi Naulu. Mr Tudravu was allegedly told by Mr Bainimarama that he would have to resign if he failed to dismiss the two policemen. Former police commissioner Sitiveni Qiliho faces two counts of abuse of office for allegedly reviewing the disciplinary decision made by Mr Tudravu.
Ms Tabuakoro told the court that if the phone extraction process is unsuccessful, the State would rest its case next Monday.
Meanwhile, three of the six prosecution witnesses, who took the stand yesterday, shed light on the devices used by Mr Bainimarama and Mr Tudravu. Two witnesses from the communications unit, Inspector Mikaele Coka and Corporal Amelia Kamsoo, said in court that Mr Tudravu’s official phone, a Samsung Galaxy Note 20 Ultra, used in 2021, was disposed of due to irreparable damage.
When questioned by the defence if attempts were made to recover data from the phone, Corporal Kamsoo replied no.
Additionally, William Pawa, the planning and coordinating officer in the Office of the Prime Minister who worked with Mr Bainimarama for eight years until the latter’s retirement in December 2022, approached the then PM regarding official items not returned per the inventory, one of which was the official Apple 12 Pro phone.
Mr Pawa mentioned that upon checking the serial number of the phone, it did not correspond with the numbers listed in the inventory. He said Mr Bainimarama told him the initial official phone could not be located.
He said the phone felt brand new, and there was no data on it, which warranted a reset, and he had been using the same device without informing his supervisor from then until the police took it last Thursday.
Ms Tabuakuro argued that despite Mr Pawa’s testimony, the State still asserts the Apple 12 Pro was the same device used by Mr Bainimarama in the Viber communications. The trial continues on August 25.