Statement

 We can now officially confirm the formal laying of charges against former Prime Minister Josaia Voreqe Bainimarama and suspended Commissioner of Police Brigadier General Sitiveni Tukaituraga Qiliho The two have been charged with one count of abuse of office each, following the sanctioning of charges by the Director of Public Prosecutions Mr Christopher Pryde.

Mr Bainimarama and Brigadier General Qiliho were brought in for further questioning today.

Upon the completion of the questioning via Video Recording Interview, the two were formally charged and will be kept in custody at the Totogo Police Station.

The two will be produced at the Suva Magistrates Court tomorrow morning.

As advised by Mr Pryde, the special task force headed by the Director Criminal Investigations will undertake further investigations into other matters arising from this case.

We will release more information when there are new developments made.

I also want to use this opportunity to clear the air and reassure members of the public who may have questioned the prolonged manner in which the investigations are being handled by the CID special task force.

Their work has been labelled by many, to be different from the handling of investigations as witnessed in past years, where once a report is received, suspects are immediately brought in for questioning and kept in custody.

I want to reiterate the independence of the investigation processes in place, as what is being witnessed is not an attempt to purposely delay the investigation or questioning processes, but this is the proper manner in which investigations are to be conducted. Investigators are given full autonomy to conduct the necessary work of the gathering of statements and evidence and the questioning of persons of interest.

There is no interference into the handling of these cases by other senior officers, as the investigation team reports directly to me as their line Assistant Commissioner of Police, the Chief of Intelligence, Investigations and Prosecutions We understand that and recognize that the concerns are valid, due to past practices, and on behalf of the Acting Commissioner of Police assure the public that investigations are being conducted in accordance with processes and procedures.

Acting Assistant Commissioner of Police Sakeo Raikaci Chief of Intelligence, Investigations and Prosecutions