THE nature of the alleged offence by Prime Minister Voreqe Bainimarama could be different if Opposition MP Pio Tikoduadua was injured, said Defence Minister and member of the Parliamentary Privileges Committee Inia Seruiratu.
This is an observation he made to the committee according to its verbatim report dated September 5, 2019.
Mr Tikoduadua had alleged that he was assaulted by Mr Bainimarama on August 9 after a heated debate in Parliament on a motion to establish a Special Parliamentary Committee to oversee the hard drugs issue in Fiji.
Before that, Mr Bainimarama claimed in Parliament that he was personally attacked by Mr Tikoduadua.
“Again, it goes back to the nature of the offence. This is just touching the collar but it would be different if I ask the question about whether there was any physical or any injuries,” Mr Seruiratu said.
“These are mitigating factors when we look at each of the cases, there was no injury at all and of course we can interpret, drawing attention, touching the collar, grabbing, shoving or whatever.
“It would be different if the honourable Lt Col Pio Tikoduadua was injured and of course the medical report.”
