Bainimarama probed for illegal phone use

Jailed former Prime Minister Voreqe Bainimarama is under investigation for allegedly using a phone without authorisation. Bainimarama is serving a one-year sentence at the Nasinu Corrections Centre. The investigation is underway to determine the details of the unauthorised phone usage.

He is serving his sentence after being convicted of attempting to pervert the course of justice. Bainimarama was granted limited access to his phone for medical purposes. However, it is claimed that he has been making private calls, which constitutes a clear violation of prison regulations.

Corrections Commissioner Jalesi Nakarawa said the department was committed to upholding the highest standards of security and order within its facilities, and any breach of these regulations was taken seriously.

“To ensure that it does not happen again, appropriate disciplinary actions will be taken against any individuals found to be negligent or complicit in this matter.” 

Policy review

The Fiji Corrections Service is now reviewing its current policies and procedures to strengthen controls over the medical treatment of inmates, including the use of mobile phones in such cases.

“This includes reassessing the protocols for granting special accommodations to prisoners with medical needs to ensure that these allowances do not compromise security,” he said. “The court order relating to Bainimarama may need to be addressed to ensure the prisoner’s medical needs are met without compromising security.”

The FCS has acknowledged the need to balance the medical requirements of prisoners with the imperative to maintain strict adherence to prison regulations. “The results of this investigation will inform future decisions on how best to manage this balance.”

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