Bainimarama and Qiliho's abuse of office trial to begin in July

The abuse of office trial of former Prime Minister Voreqe Bainimarama and suspended Police Commissioner Brigadier General Sitiveni Qiliho will begin on the 17th of July.

Acting DPP David Toganivalu told the court that all disclosures have been served while Bainimarama and Qiliho's lawyer, Devanesh Sharma told the court that they have no issues yet but will need the weekend to go through all of it.

Sharma also informed the court that the Leader of the Opposition, Inia Seruiratu who is also a state witness will be interacting with Bainimarama as the leader of the FijiFirst Party.

This clarification was based on the bail condition that Bainimarama should not interact with the witnesses.

Sharma also says Seruiratu has already given a statement and says he is sure that Seruiratu will stick by it.

Toganivalu and Magistrate Seini Puamau did not object to this.

The charges relate to a complaint laid with the police by the University of the South Pacific in July 2020 in relation to the activities of former staff members of the University.

It is alleged that 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.

It is alleged 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 prejudicial to the rights of the USP.

The matter has been adjourned to 19th June for the pre-trial conference.