ODPP unable to recover alleged Viber chats in Bainimarama trial
Ms Tabuakuro said they couldn't extract anything because the phone was reset
Sunday 24 August 2025 | 22:00
Former Prime Minister Voreqe Bainimarama outside the High Court in Suva on August 25, 2025.
BERANADETA NAGATALEVU
The Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (ODPP) has confirmed it was unable to retrieve any of the alleged Viber chats between former Prime Minister Voreqe Bainimarama and former Police Commissioner Sitiveni Qiliho.
Assistant DPP Laisani Tabuakuro told the High Court in Suva this morning that investigations had been completed, with a report filed both with the Court Registry and the defence.
She said efforts to extract data from Bainimarama’s old phone were unsuccessful, as the device had been reset and all history cleared.
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Bainimarama and former Acting Commissioner of Police Rusiate Tudravu appeared before Justice Thushara Rajasinghe today as the trial entered its seventh day.
Bainimarama is charged with one count of making unwarranted demands, while Qiliho faces two counts of abuse of office.
The case stems from a 2021 incident in which Police Inspector Penieli Ratei and Police Constable Tomasi Naulu were terminated after photographing a man during a checkpoint inspection in Nabua. The photos were later uploaded and circulated on two police Viber chat groups.
