High Court dismisses Bainimarama’s $770,507 pension and gratuity claim
Justice Daniel Goundar dismissed the claims this morning.
Tuesday 23 September 2025 | 22:00
The High Court in Suva has dismissed former Prime Minister Voreqe Bainimarama’s claim for an annual pension and gratuity payment totalling $770,507.87.
Bainimarama argued that he was entitled to receive 75 per cent of his annual pension as a gratuity payment. Based on his annual salary of $328,750, he claimed he should have received $246,562.50. However, this was reduced to $184,921.87.
In addition, Bainimarama claimed he was entitled to a one-off gratuity payment of $770,507.87, but alleged the government only paid $433,296.75, leaving a shortfall of $337,211.12.
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Justice Daniel Goundar dismissed the claims this morning, ruling that Bainimarama’s argument — that the reduction was temporary — was not supported by law.
He cited Section 11 of the Parliamentary Remunerations Act, which “expressly provided the salary and allowances, once varied by determination, remained effective until Parliament makes a new determination.”
More in tomorrow’s Fiji Sun.
