Bainimarama and Qiliho to Return to Court for Pretrial Conference

Former Prime Minister Voreqe Bainimarama and former Police Commissioner Sitiveni Qiliho are scheduled to appear before the Suva Magistrate's Court on March 10 for a pretrial conference.

Bainimarama was present at the court yesterday, while Qiliho was escorted by the Fiji Corrections Service after the case was called, both men face charges of abuse of office.

Bainimarama is accused of making an unlawful demand as a public official.

He allegedly pressured former senior police officer Rusiate Tudravu to either fire Penieli Nayare Ratei and Tomasi Naulu or resign between May 21 and August 18, 2021.

Qiliho, on the other hand, faces two charges of abuse of office.

It is alleged that between August 5 and August 8, 2021; while serving as Police Commissioner, he overturned the disciplinary decisions made by Tudravu, the Acting Police Commissioner at the time.

Qiliho is said to have dismissed Naulu and Ratei, who were originally fined for their offenses instead.