Bainimarama and Qiliho found guilty, and to be sentenced on March 28th

Bainimarama and Qiliho found guilty, and to be sentenced on March 28th

By Rashika Kumar , Vijay Narayan
Thursday 14/03/2024

Former Prime Minister, Voreqe Bainimarama and suspended Police Commissioner, Brigadier General Sitiveni Qiliho have been found guilty by Acting Chief Justice Salesi Temo, and they will be sentenced by Magistrate Seini Puamau on the 28th of March. The matter will be called on Monday for entering of their conviction, and the sentencing and mitigation submissions will be made next Wednesday.

Bainimarama has been found guilty of one count of attempt to pervert the course of justice while Qiliho has been found guilty of one count of abuse of office.

They were earlier found not guilty by Magistrate Puamau.

According to the charges, Bainimarama sometime in July 2020 as the Prime Minister directed the Police Commissioner to stop the investigation into a police complaint, in the abuse of the authority of his office, which was an arbitrary act prejudicial to the rights of the University of the South Pacific which is the complainant.

For Qiliho’s charges, the charges say that Qiliho on the 15th of July, 2020 as the Police Commissioner directed the Director of the Criminal Investigations Department, Serupepeli Neiko and Inspector Reshmi Dass to stop investigations into the police complaint by the USP, in the abuse of the authority of his office, which was an arbitrary act of prejudicial to the rights to USP.

431751886-283228054796062-8079835836390765522-n

Justice Temo today said that he accepts that the State witnesses had proven their case beyond reasonable doubt and Magistrate Seini Puamau erred in law.

The Acting Director of Public Prosecutions, John Rabuku had filed an appeal against the acquittal of Bainimarama and Qiliho.


FEATURE NEWS
Drua women defeat Brumbies 21-15 in Lautoka
The Rooster Chicken Fijian Drua women have defeated the Brumbies 21-15 in Round 3 of the Super W competition. Both the Drua and Brumbies started th...
13 hours ago
LATEST NEWS
2,000 Social Welfare recipients to receive climate risk insurance from SUN Insurance
In a significant step towards enhancing financial resilience, 2,000 social welfare recipients in Fiji will now have access to micro parametric ...
14 hours ago

Cabinet approves National Housing Policy 2025-2030 to address housing challenges
The Cabinet has approved the National Housing Policy 2025-2030. The policy has been developed following a review of the 2011 policy. It ...
14 hours ago

Free Medicine Scheme for Northern Division people
The Ministry of Health is bringing a great opportunity to the people of the Northern Division through its Free Medicine Scheme. A team from the ...
14 hours ago

Millions of Indians celebrate Holi
Millions of Indians are celebrating Holi, the festival of colors. The spring festival symbolizes the victory of good over evil and marks the end ...
18 hours ago

FICAC receives 43 complaints with 11 recommended for investigation
The Fiji Independent Commission Against Corruption has confirmed that they received 43 complaints last month where 11 complaints were ...
18 hours ago



fijivillage Straight Talk with Vijay Narayan
Latest Videos

Stay tuned for the latest news on our radio stations

CFL radio frequencies
yb
IN DEPTH
Reverend Tugi on fijivillage Straight Talk With Vijay Narayan
Watch the General Secretary of Fiji Evangelical Fellowship, Reverend Simione Tugi on fijivillage Straight Talk With Vijay ...
17 days ago

fijivillage Straight Talk with Vijay Narayan and William Parkinson
Chairman of Communications Fiji Limited, parent company of FM96, LegendFM, VitiFM, Navtarang, Radio Sargam, fijivillage and PNGFM, William Parkinson ...
18 days ago

fijivillage Straight Talk with Vijay Narayan and Adi Tulia Nacola
The candid interview focuses on Nacola, coming from a chiefly family and being a daughter of a Minister who was ousted in the 1987 military coup, her ...
18 days ago

TOP