Bainimarama sentenced to 1 year in prison, while Qiliho sentenced to 2 years in prison

Former Prime Minister Voreqe Bainimarama has been sentenced to 1 year in prison after being found guilty of one count of attempting to pervert the course of justice in the University of the South Pacific case.

While handing down his sentence, acting Chief Justice Salesi Temo said there was a breach of trust and that Bainimarama was prime minister at the time. He says Bainimarama took an oath of allegiance.

The acting chief justice emphasized that Bainimarama’s mitigating factors were his medical condition and character reference by two former presidents.

While sentencing Qiliho, Judge Temo said there was a breach of public trust as he was police commissioner at the time.

Acting Chief Justice Temo says that by ignoring the fact that Bainimarama and Qiliho were convicted, the Magistrates Court acted on the wrong principle in relation to the High Court orders.

He says magistrate Seini Puamau re-examined irrelevant matters in her sentencing of Bainimarama and Qiliho. He says she was obliged to judge and convict based on the facts provided by the Supreme Court, a higher court.

The Acting Chief Justice also quashed Magistrate Puamau’s conviction.

He says that by ignoring the fact that both have been convicted, the Magistrates Court acted on the wrong principle in relation to the High Court’s orders.

There is a heightened sense of security outside the Suva High Court following the conviction of former Prime Minister Voreqe Bainimarama and suspended police commissioner Sitiveni Qiliho.

Only family members, lawyers and the media are allowed in the courtroom.

IDs were checked and the general public was not allowed inside.

Some embassy representatives were also allowed into the courthouse.

Opposition Leader Inia Seruiratu, FijiFirst MPs Faiyaz Koya, Rinesh Sharma, Ketan Lal, Vijay Nath, Ioane Naivaluua and Virendra Lal are also present. There is a more pronounced police presence than normal, with vehicles being checked upon entry.

A section is cordoned off in front of the High Court, opposite the Holiday Inn.

Bainimarama was found guilty of one count of attempting to pervert the course of justice, while Qiliho was found guilty of one count of abuse of office by acting Chief Justice Salesi Temo.

Bainimarama’s attempt to pervert the course of justice carries a maximum term of five years, while Qiliho’s charge of abuse of office carries a maximum term of ten years.

According to the allegations, sometime in July 2020, when the Prime Minister ordered the Police Commissioner to halt the investigation into a police complaint, Bainimarama alleged abuse of his office’s authority, which was an arbitrary act that affected the rights of the University of the South Pacific, which is the complainant. Regarding Qiliho’s indictment, the indictment states that on July 15, 2020, when the Police Commissioner ordered the Director of the Criminal Investigation Department, Serupepeli Neiko and Inspector Reshmi Dass, Qiliho ordered the investigation into the police complaint by the USP, for abuse of abuse, to stop. the authority of his office, which was an arbitrary act detrimental to the rights of USP.

Assistant DPP, Laisani Tabuakuro, has asked the court for a prison sentence and a higher tariff for Bainimarama and Qiliho, while defense attorney Devanesh Sharma asked for the Magistrates Court’s decision to be upheld and if a conviction is handed down, the court should have mercy show and pronounce a punishment. conditional punishment.

Stay with us for courthouse updates.

Heightened security outside the Supreme Court for the sentencing of Bainimarama and QilihoBy means of Alipate Narawa, Rashika Kumar, Vijay NarayanThursday 09/05/2024

Police at the court

There is a heightened sense of security outside the Suva High Court following the conviction of former Prime Minister Voreqe Bainimarama and suspended police commissioner Sitiveni Qiliho.

Only family members, lawyers and the media are allowed in the courtroom.

IDs will be checked and the general public will not be admitted.

Some embassy representatives were also allowed into the courthouse.

Opposition Leader Inia Seruiratu, FijiFirst MPs Faiyaz Koya, Rinesh Sharma, Ketan Lal, Vijay Nath, Ioane Naivaluua and Virendra Lal are also present.

Acting Chief Justice Salesi Temo will this hour sentence Bainimarama and Qiliho in the USP case.

There is a more pronounced police presence than normal, with vehicles being checked upon entry.

A section is cordoned off in front of the High Court, opposite the Holiday Inn.

Bainimarama was found guilty of one count of attempting to pervert the course of justice, while Qiliho was found guilty of one count of abuse of office by acting Chief Justice Salesi Temo.

Bainimarama’s attempt to pervert the course of justice carries a maximum term of five years, while Qiliho’s charge of abuse of office carries a maximum term of ten years.

According to the allegations, sometime in July 2020, when the Prime Minister ordered the Police Commissioner to halt the investigation into a police complaint, Bainimarama alleged abuse of his office’s authority, which was an arbitrary act that affected the rights of the University of the South Pacific, which is the complainant.

Regarding Qiliho’s indictment, the indictment states that on July 15, 2020, when the Police Commissioner ordered the Director of the Criminal Investigation Department, Serupepeli Neiko and Inspector Reshmi Dass, Qiliho ordered the investigation into the police complaint by the USP, for abuse of abuse, to stop. the authority of his office, which was an arbitrary act detrimental to the rights of USP.

Assistant DPP, Laisani Tabuakuro, has asked the court for a prison sentence and a higher tariff for Bainimarama and Qiliho, while defense attorney Devanesh Sharma asked for the Magistrates Court’s decision to be upheld and if a conviction is handed down, the court should have mercy show and pronounce a punishment. conditional punishment.

Stay with us for courthouse updates.

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