THE Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (ODPP) has confirmed filing an appeal against the sentence handed to former prime minister, Voreqe Bainimarama and the acquittal of former police commissioner, Sitiveni Qiliho in relation to abuse of office charges committed in 2021.
In response to queries, the ODPP told this newspaper yesterday that “the Notice of Appeal was filed on November 19, 2025, and served on RPatel Lawyers, respectively”.
The grounds of appeal states the judge erred in law and fact by acquitting Qiliho and that the sentence imposed against Bainimarama was manifestly lenient.
The ODPP also confirmed the case will continue to be handled by Assistant DPP Laisani Tabuakuro and senior state lawyer Pooja Mishra.
“No dates have been issued by the Fiji Court of Appeal yet for the first call,” it said.
In the high-profile criminal case which concluded three months ago, Bainimarama was charged with making an unwarranted demand to a public official while Qiliho faced two counts of abuse of office for offences committed between May 21 and August 18, 2021.
The case arose from an incident involving two police officers — Sergeant Penieli Ratei and Constable Tomasi Naulu — who received relatively light disciplinary penalties after taking photos of Jonacani Bainimarama, the brother of the former PM, and circulating the images in police Viber group chats.
Bainimarama went on to pressure then-acting police commissioner Rusiate Tudravu, after receiving a call from the victim, to terminate the officers’ employment or face resignation.
The ODPP had accused Mr Qiliho of reviewing and overturning a disciplinary decision made by Mr Tudravu.
In October last year in Suva, Justice Thushara Rajasinghe found the ex-PM guilty and sentenced him to 12 months suspended for three years, while Mr Qiliho was not found guilty and was acquitted.
The case marked the first time an individual in Fiji was prosecuted under the offence of unwarranted demand to a public official.
