Honolulu Star-Advertiser

Saturday, October 5, 2024 78° Today's Paper


Top News

Former Fiji prime minister sentenced to year in jail

REUTERS/PHIL NOBLE/POOL/FILE PHOTO
                                Fiji’s Prime Minister Josaia Voreqe ‘Frank’ Bainimarama attends a meeting during the UN Climate Change Conference (COP26) in Glasgow, Scotland, Britain, November 2021.

REUTERS/PHIL NOBLE/POOL/FILE PHOTO

Fiji’s Prime Minister Josaia Voreqe ‘Frank’ Bainimarama attends a meeting during the UN Climate Change Conference (COP26) in Glasgow, Scotland, Britain, November 2021.

Fiji’s former long-serving prime minister Frank Bainimarama was on Thursday sentenced to a year in prison for perverting the course of justice, the country’s director of public prosecutions said.

Bainimarama was initially spared jail in the case during sentencing last month, before being overturned on appeal.

A former military chief, Bainimarama came to power in a 2006 coup and later won democratic elections in 2014 and 2018.

He was found guilty this month by the High Court of attempting to pervert the course of justice while he was prime minister by telling then police commissioner Sitiveni Qiliho not to investigate allegations of graft at the region’s University of South Pacific, court documents show.

Qiliho was sentenced to two years in jail at the same hearing for abuse of office, the Fiji’s Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions said in a statement.

Bainimarama narrowly lost power in December 2022 to a coalition of parties led by current prime minister, Sitiveni Rabuka.

By participating in online discussions you acknowledge that you have agreed to the Terms of Service. An insightful discussion of ideas and viewpoints is encouraged, but comments must be civil and in good taste, with no personal attacks. If your comments are inappropriate, you may be banned from posting. Report comments if you believe they do not follow our guidelines. Having trouble with comments? Learn more here.