Former Prime Minister Frank Bainimarama was in hand cuffs and led out of the Suva High Court on Thursday 9 of May, to make his way to Korovou Prison where he will serve his 1 year sentence.
The former Fiji Prime Minister has been sentenced to 1 year in prison. Suspended Police Commissioner Sitiveni Qiliho will serve 2 years in prison. They will serve custodial sentences. The duo were sentenced in the High Court yesterday by Acting Chief Justice Salesi Temo for charges of perverting the course of justice and abuse of office.
Mr Bainimarama was found guilty of one count of attempt to pervert the course of justice in the University of the South Pacific case while Mr Qiliho was found guilty of one count of abuse of office.
The former PM and the suspended Police Commissioner were found not guilty and acquitted accordingly by Magistrate Puamau at the Suva Magistrates Court on October 12, 2023.
But the State filed an appeal against their acquittal where Justice Temo then overturned Magistrate Puamau’s decision and found the two guilty as charged. Their sentencing was set for Thursday resulting in their jailing.
Mr. Bainimarama was the Military Commander in 2006, who carried out a coup in December against Prime Minister Laisenia Qarase and President Josefa Iloilo. He later got elected. He was in office as Prime Minister for 16 years.