Ex-Fijian Prime Minister Sentenced for Obstructing Justice
Former Prime Minister of Fiji, Frank Bainimarama, has been sentenced to a year in jail for perverting the course of justice, which removes him from politics for 8 years.
Frank Bainimarama, who led Fiji for 16 years, received a one-year jail sentence for perverting the course of justice.
Also, Sitiveni Qiliho, the former police commissioner during Bainimarama’s final years in power, was sentenced to two years for the same incident. They attempted to influence a police investigation into financial mismanagement at the University of the South Pacific in 2019.
Initially found not guilty in the Magistrates Court last year due to insufficient evidence, the case was heard on appeal.
The conviction was handed down on May 9, following the former leader’s loss at the December 2022 general elections.
Both men have the option to appeal to higher courts, but their request for bail until the next hearing was denied.
A large crowd gathered at the courthouse in Suva as Acting Chief Justice Salesi Temo delivered the ruling.
Unless completely overturned, the guilty verdict will end Bainimarama’s dominating presence in Fiji’s politics for over two decades.
Major Implications for Fiji Politics
Bainimarama is the leader of FijiFirst, the largest political party in the country. The conviction bars him from running for parliament for eight years, affecting his eligibility for the 2026 and 2034 elections.
In addition to the recent conviction, Bainimarama faces two other charges related to abuse of office.
During his tenure, Bainimarama had strained relations with Australia, resulting in travel bans and sanctions on him and other Fijian officials.
Former Australian Prime Minister Kevin Rudd once described Fiji under Bainimarama as “virtually a military dictatorship.”
