Qiliho faces new investigation

Sitiveni Qiliho, the former Police Commissioner currently serving time for abuse of office, is now under investigation for statements he  made following the 2022 General Election. The investigation is focused on claims he made in December 2022 regarding alleged instability and violence after the polls.

Assistant Commissioner of Police Crime Mesake Waqa confirmed to Fiji Sun yesterday that the allega­tions related to Qiliho’s statements, specifically concerning unverified reports of stoning incidents and vandal­ism, are now being examined.

“We confirm that there is an inves­tigation regarding the statement issued alleging the stoning incident and vandalism,” ACP Waqa  said.

On December 21, 2022, just a week after the General Election, Qiliho reported that Police had received unconfirmed reports of stoning incidents, although the callers had declined to lodge official reports. He subsequently ordered that the Divisional Crime Officer for the North be tasked with conducting a thorough investigation into reports of vandalism in the region. 

The following day, December 22, Qiliho announced that the Republic of Fiji Military Forces (RFMF) would assist the Police in maintaining law and order due to increasing reports of threats against minority groups in the wake of the election results. In his statement, Qiliho expressed concern over the growing racial tension, stating that an agreement had been reached for RFMF personnel to provide support to police efforts. 

However, the situation escalated when former Police chief of operations Abdul Khan resigned from his position on December 23, citing personal reasons. Sources indicate that Khan’s resignation was linked to disagreements over the decision to involve the RFMF in Police operations. RFMF Commander Major-General Ro Jone Kalouniwai recently discussed the precarious situation following the 2022 polls in a media interview, acknowledging the tension that could have destabilised the RFMF. 

He highlighted the attempts to involve the RFMF while underscoring their commitment to preventing further unrest.

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