Judgment for the state prosecution’s appeal on former Fiji PM Voreqe Bainimarama and suspended COMPOL Sitiveni Qiliho will be handed down on March 14.
The case involving Bainimarama and Qiliho revolves around specific allegations related to their actions during an investigation into the University of the South Pacific (USP) in 2020. Bainimarama was charged with attempting to pervert the course of justice. Qiliho is charged with abuse of office. They were acquitted of the charges by Magistrate Seini Puamau.
Defense attorney Devanesh Sharma said the prosecution’s witnesses both from the CID had given contradicting statements including then Acting Compol Rusiate Tudravu who he said “had an axe to grind”.
Chief Justice Salesi Temo questioned FICAC’s premature call to close the case when the investigation was still ongoing.
Sharma asked Chief Justice Temo that the case be dismissed as there were many loopholes not leading to anything substantial in the prosecution’s request for the re-trial.
Justice Temo will deliver his judgment at 10 am on March 14.
