Former Fiji’s Prime Minister Voreqe Bainimarama and suspended commissioner of police Sitiveni Qiliho were today found guilty and have been convicted accordingly by the High Court in Suva.
Acting Chief Justice, Salesi Temo delivered his judgment after Acting Director of Public Prosecutions, John Rabuku filed an appeal against the acquittal of Bainimarama and Qiliho last month.
Bainimarama has been convicted for one count of attempted to pervert the course of justice and Qiliho for one count of abuse of office.
The State had filed eight grounds of appeal and reserves the right to amend, add or delete any grounds of appeal at the receipt of the court record.
Justice Temo has ordered Magistrate Seini Puamau to sentence the convicted persons on 28 March.
The allegations stemmed from actions in July 2020, where Bainimarama, then serving as Prime Minister, was accused of directing Qiliho to halt an investigation into a police complaint filed by the University of the South Pacific.
Magistrate Puamau initially declared the defendants not guilty, citing insufficient evidence, after a 11-week trial in October last year.
