Mutiny trial set for April next year

Former Fijian Prime Minister Voreqe Bainimarama and ex-Police Commissioner Sitiveni Qiliho will face trial next April on charges of inciting mutiny. The dates for the trial have been set from April 5 to April 30, 2027, with Justice Daniel Goundar presiding.

The state informed the court that it will not rely on caution interviews, as there were no admissions made. Instead, prosecutors will present direct evidence, including phone records, and will call expert witnesses to support their case. The defense, led by lawyer Devanesh Sharma, indicated that based on the disclosures provided, the trial is expected to take approximately three weeks.

Bainimarama and Qiliho each face two counts related to allegedly inciting mutiny. The first count alleges that between January 1 and July 31, 2023, Bainimarama sent Viber messages to Brigadier General Manoa Gadai, attempting to incite him to take command and overthrow the authority of the Republic of Fiji Military Forces Commander, Major General Jone Kalouniwai. The second count claims that between July 1 and July 31, 2023, the former Prime Minister and former Police Commissioner jointly spoke with several senior RFMF officers, urging them to unlawfully arrest and seize authority from the RFMF Commander.

Both accused individuals are expected to testify during the trial, and they may call up to three additional witnesses. The court has scheduled a pre-trial conference for November 24.