Security has been tightened in central Suva as Frank Bainimarama and Sitiveni Qiliho are re-sentenced by the Acting Chief Justice, Salesi Temo, and he imposes much harsher penalties than the effective acquittals pronounced on them by Magistrate Seini Puamau. The hearing was due to begin at 11.00am and local media reports that police are checking vehicles anywhere near the High Court precinct.
The State in the form of the ODPP has asked for custodial sentences for the pair – Bainimarama for perverting the course of justice and Qiliho for abuse of office for their roles in blocking a police investigation at USP.
In the case of the ousted prime minister, it is possible that he may receive a suspended jail term because of the multiple physical ailments outlined by the defence counsel in its plea for mercy. There are rumours in Suva that a deal has been done involving the Prime Minister to keep Frank Bainimarama out of jail. But don’t bet on it. At every turn in this saga, it has been clear that Justice Temo – who has displayed astonishing bias and blatantly pre-judged the appeal – is determined to put the pair behind bars.
All will be revealed today. What is likely to happen? It is impossible to say with any degree of certainty. Except that if the pair are sent to jail, they are likely to be escorted from the High Court in handcuffs and taken to Naboro – Fiji’s biggest and most notorious prison. It may be that their defence counsel asks for bail pending a reference to the Court of Appeal. But according to authoritative legal sources, it is very unusual in criminal trials when prison sentences have been imposed for bail to be granted in advance of an appeal.
That means the extraordinary spectacle of the former military commander and ousted prime minister – plus his most loyal lieutenant – suffering the humiliation of a “walk of shame” in handcuffs to a police vehicle for the journey down the Queens Road to Naboro. It was once totally unthinkable. But such is the fate of those who – like the mythical Greek figure, Icarus – fly too close to the sun in the winner-takes-all rough-and-tumble of Fijian politics.
We can only imagine what happens if (or more likely when) Frank and Siti pull up at Naboro and swap their snappy street gear for prison orange. Grubsheet knows someone who spent five years there and what they can expect after their induction is two men to a cell and a bucket in the corner.
Will there be an extra humiliation? A face-to-face encounter with Naboro’s most notorious inmate, the 2000 rebellion leader, George Speight? For Frank Bainimarama, this would be the ultimate nightmare – having to endure the triumphal stare and leery grin of the man he double-crossed to end the parliamentary siege of 2000 – the last man to be sentenced to death for treason in Fiji and who is still in Naboro 24 years later after that sentence was commuted to life imprisonment.
Try to imagine the scene in your mind’s eye. The withering contempt and searing hatred. “Oi, Bula Frank. Welcome to where you belong, maqai*****u ”. Those who have visited Speight in recent years say he is abnormally fit for his age due to his supervisory role in the prison teitei. “When you have settled in, how about joining me in the garden? I’ve got the ideal job for you. Growing the vudi for what comes next”.
For two decades, George Speight wouldn’t have dared to dream of such a scenario. But now the previously unthinkable is happening – Frank Bainimarama entering Naboro and Speight quite possibly on the verge of coming out.
Only the prospect of a clash with the military is said to be preventing the head of the Mercy Commission – the Attorney General, Siromi Turaga – from releasing George Speight after the recent release of the instigator of the 2000 mutiny, the Qaranivalu, Ratu Inoke Takiveikata.
But with Frank inside, that could soon change. Because if the RFMF accepts the jailing of its former commander, Siromi Turaga will know that it is ready to accept the release of the 2000 coup leader. And that is a terrifying prospect not just for Frank Bainimarama but for every Fijian, and especially the nation’s minorities.
NOTE: I have had to censor a number of comments that are highly prejudicial to certain individuals who have not been charged with anything. Grubsheet will not be party to a witch-hunt so please be mindful of the old adage – innocent until proven guilty.
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About to pronounce sentence. The Acting Chief Justice, Salesi Temo.
The nightmare scenario awaiting at Naboro. Face to face with the 2000 coup leader, George Speight.
The AG, Siromi Turaga (r), has already freed the Qaranivalu (l) – the High Chief of Naitasiri who instigated the 2000 mutiny in the RFMF in which an attempt was made to kill Frank Bainimarama. If the military accepts the jailing of its former commander, will Siromi Turaga free the Qaranivalu’s close associate, George Speight?
And as if to really rub Frank’s nose in it, where is Sitiveni Rabuka? At Buckingham Palace with King Charles.
The humiliation of Frank Bainimarama is complete.
Have you noticed, whenever Frank goes to court Rabuka and Baiman take off overseas?
Never good for a country to see their former Prime Minster go to prison. But you get what you sow.
Frank became an elitist and never rolled up his sleeve to solve long term problems faced by the country.
Debt increased, poverty grew, economy did not diversify, medical and infrastructure services crumbled, drugs infiltrated the country, education and skills training collapsed under his watch.
Everything that was needed by a country to progress was badly neglected yet he invested his time in globetrotting, flying first class, luxury hotels , wine and dine and basically being out of the country every month enjoying the perks of the office.
He ruled not by the law but with the laws enacted to suit his agenda.
He put so many lives into misery with deportations, prosecution, and catering to only those that did not oppose his agenda.
A constitution that never had the people’s mandate was imposed and is now the law of the land.
He could have been Fiji’s most successful PM, and it’s too early to say how history will judge him.
A bitter farewell and fall from grace for the once untouchable and the mighty.
Dictators do fall and history is pasted with many who rode the high horse only to fall from grace.
The chapter of Frank draws to a close and goes into the history books.
Sad but no sympathy for him.
Very much agree. Could have easily been Fiji’s best PM. Did many things right. But absolute power corrupts absolutely. And it now all ends in tears.
Feel sad for him but definitely no sympathy after reading Aman Singh’s post about one of the Ra16 jailed for sedition.
When will Rabuka be sent to jail for 1987 coup, involvement in NBF saga, 2000 coup(shadowy figure behind the coup) and mutiny which killed loyal soldiers. Rule of law has not been applied to this thug which is pity.. He continues to hide for his crimes and injustice done to so many people protected through great council of thieves. Bainimarama only mistake was letting this snake off the hook during his 16 year term. If he had put the thug in he wouldn’t be seeing this day…
Rabuka was granted due process, despite being caught in an embarrassing way hiding under the pool table, defacating his pants.
But he slithered his way out like the cool snake that he is.
We’re all on edge here because the military will not take too kindly to custodial sentences. And Rabuka has snaked his way out of the country, perhaps he knows this might get awry.
At least FRANK was man enough to return and face the trumped up charges.
Rabuka will forever remain the SNAKE.
Hey, they both inserted the immunity clause into the constitution to save themselves and the imposed 2013 constitution is the law of the land. At least Rabuka and his Coalition govt will be setting up a truth and reconciliation commission for whatever it’s worth let’s hope truth and reconciliation will indeed come about and help heal old wounds.
You have to move away from the reference to NBF saga as it old news and things have moved on, yes people should have been held accountable but hey were not and life has moved on.
In the end the courts are always there for anyone to test the law therefore if you are really passionate about holding them all accountable then you should seek it through the courts.
People made a choice in 2022 and ousted Fiji First and people will have the right to choose again in 2026 and that is people power.
Firstly, RABUKA needs to come clean about his role in the 2000 upheavals before he sets up a truth and reconciliation committee.
Rabuka has only come out about the other women on the side with so much candour, as if it absolves him of everything.
What a shame that he was afforded due process.
Bainimarama envisioned for the itaukei an insurmontable undertaking — to protect, to preserve, to share, their land of opportunity, their gift from God, with, the vulagi. It was a solemn endeavour, to be their greatest opportunity, the confirmation that they are indeed the greatest people to have lived, outside of Judea.
I hate to burst your bubble, but it wasn’t their gift from God. They came here in boats. That’s why there is a place called First Landing.
There may or may not have been other people here before them but Lapita pottery suggests there were.
Please go easy, these folks are special people from Israel and only landed here in Vuda after they accidentally dropped the ARK OF THE COVENANT into the Yasawa passage as the Degei was sailing through to the promised lands down South,……Kadavu ?? Does that make Lynda Tabuya, MARY MAGDALENE ?
At least that was the school of thought during the 2000 upheaval by one Ratu Meli Vesikula who told me rhis as I drove him home from a meeting. The Kaiviti are living in these Lapita lands guarding the Ark of the COVENANT. I suggested to the Ratu that he engage Robert Ballard from the Woodshole Oceanography institute to help locate the Ark. He didn’t like my suggestion.
Just to add…they were cannibals too. For all we know the original inhabitants were most likely killed and eaten by God’s chosen people.
Lapita pottery dated to well before the first landin confirms that the iTaukei aren’t the indigenous of Fiji. Alisi Daurewa did a credible thesis on it.
Common sense would also suggest that neither did they fall of Noah’s ark onto Fiji.
To Anonymous Re The land being a Gift from God:
What is this statement or claim based on?
It was not a gift from God. It’s international law that determines rights of first settlers to uninhabited lands!
If the individual believed in the Bible , or even selected convenient parts of it, God only promised land to Abraham and his descendants.
Don’t make false claims!!
Everyone is so on edge……. Waiting for your next post GD……scary times. Again…..
@its a no brainer. History for you- ‘history is a set of lies agreed upon – Napoleon Bonaparte.’ My ‘lament’ was for the trials and tribulations that the itaukei have had to deal with ever since the’vulagi’. The quest by Bainimarama was a ‘modern-day’ crusade for the itaukei to establish their place, ‘for generations’, that they are indeed ‘one of them’, who journeyed out via Africa, from the land of Judah.