Bainimarama, Qiliho back in High Court today in corruption case appeal

Fiji’s former leader Frank Bainimarama and suspended police commissioner Sitiveni Qiliho are back in court on Wednesday after their sentencing was appealed by the State last week.

Bainimarama and Qiliho will appear in the High Court before the Acting Chief Justice Selasi Temo.

The two men were let off without conviction by Magistrate Seini Puamau and the State filed for immediate appeal last Thursday after their sentencing.

The 69-year-old former military commander and 2006 coup leader was found guilty of perverting the course of justice in a case related to the University of the South Pacific.

Suspended police chief Qiliho, charged for abuse of office, was given a FJ$1500 fine without conviction and told to pay it within 30 days or end up in prison for 30 days.

The country’s acting director of public prosecutions John Rabuku said the sentencing was “unsatisfactory and wrong both in fact and in law and does not reflect the considerations and tariff of cases or matters of similar nature”.

Bainimarama’s lawyer has been approached for comment.