FORMER prime minister Voreqe Bainimarama and suspended police commissioner Brigadier-General Sitiveni Qiliho were charged with one count each of abuse of office after being summoned to the Criminal Investigations Department yesterday afternoon and kept overnight at Totogo Police Station to appear in court this morning.
Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) Christopher Pryde said the charges for terminating an active police investigation in relation to the University of the South Pacific in July, 2019 were laid following a review of the police evidence docket which DPP received on February 17, 2023.
“The former prime minister, Voreqe Bainimarama and the suspended police commissioner, Sitiveni Qiliho, are alleged to have arbitrarily and in abuse of the authority of their respective offices, terminated an active police investigation,” Mr Pryde said.
“The charges relate to a complaint laid with the police by the University of the South Pacific in July, 2019 in relation to the activities of former staff members of the university.
“The police have also been requested to undertake further investigations into other matters arising from this case and more charges may be laid against other suspects in due course.”
