Defence appeal yet to proceed
High Court’s decision by Acting CJ Temo on March 14, with the Fiji Court of Appeal.
As is the case, defence has 28 days to appeal against the conviction. The Fiji Court of Appeal, in this case is yet to include a proceeding in its calendar.
Bainimarama was charged with one count of attempting to pervert the course of justice, while Qiliho was charged with one count of abuse of office.
Here’s a timeline of the case after Magistrate Puamau acquitted the pair on October 12, 2023:
• February 29: The state appealed to the High Court against the decision;
• March 14: Acting CJ Temo overturned Magistrate Puamau’s decision and found the defendants guilty of the charges against them. He then transferred the matter back to Magistrate Puamau for sentencing;
• March 18: The defence filed an appeal to the Fiji Court of Appeal. It was received and filed by the State and Fiji Court of Appeal respectively (View QR Code);
• March 25: Magistrate Puamau entered the guilty conviction sentence. State and Defence also filed submissions;
• March 28 (11am): Magistrate granted an absolute discharge for Bainimarama while Qiliho’s case was discharged on the condition that he pays $1500 within 30 days;
• On the same day (around 2pm): the state filed an appeal against Puamau’s sentencing.
• Today: First call for the sentencing appeal at the High Court in Suva.
Charge details
Between July and September 2020, Bainimarama attempted to pervert the course of justice by telling Qiliho (Commissioner of Police at the time) to stay away from the USP (University of the South Pacific) investigations that were reported at the CID Headquarters on July 12, 2019.
On July 15, while he was Commissioner
of Police, Qiliho directed the director of Criminal Investigations Department, Serupepeli Neiko and Inspector Reshmi Dass, to stop investigations into the Police complaints involving CID HQ (12/07/2019), in abuse of the authority of his office, which was an arbitrary act prejudicial to the rights of the University of the South Pacific, which was the complainant in CID HQ PEP 12/07/2019. .