In a major development, lawyers for Frank Bainimarama and Sitiveni Qiliho have filed an action in the High Court seeking to have the Acting Chief Justice, Salesi Temo, recuse himself on the grounds of alleged conflict of interest and bias from hearing the ODPP’s appeal against their sentencing next month.
They are also seeking a stay on the entire proceedings until there is constitutional clarity on the legality of the appointment of John Rabuku as Acting DPP.
Grubsheet foreshadowed the application for the Acting CJ to recuse himself in our recent article on Salesi Temo. But this is also bringing the constitutional position of John Rabuku to a head.
Read the full application and the contents of Sitiveni Qiliho’s affidavit on behalf of both he and the ousted prime minister here on Grubsheet tomorrow (Saturday).
If it succeeds, this is an issue that could drag on for many months, with all sorts of legal and political implications.
Never a dull moment in Fiji, that’s for sure.
An application for Salesi Temo to stand aside and for the appeal case to be heard by another judge.
… and for proceedings to be stayed until the constitutional position of John Rabuku as Acting DPP is clarified.
WE SINK FURTHER WITH THIS ONGOING CASE .
What’s next and where to from here???
May God bring justice to criminals that has made the innocent people suffer
Sa donu.
Good job.
No one is above the law.
These 2 men in the justice system have brought Fiji to its knees. Siromi is another thug amongst them.
Temo and Rabuku are slim shady Sitiveni Rabukas lackeys. Voreqe B should receive a Nobel Peace Prize for preventing Fiji becoming an African cannibal conga state. Siti the slimy snake needs to be stopped.
I had suggested that the lawyers for the two seek the Acting CJs recusal as well as challenging the legality of the Acting DPPs appointment. These two are clearly and openly prejudiced and not independent. They both have a personal agenda. They have a predetermined assumption of guilt. A prejudiced and stacked judiciary is clearly not good in any form of democracy. Both are clearly not qualified to hold such positions due to their prejudices. Do not just recuse them, kick them both out I say.
There are many more elsewhere who need to be given the boot.
FFS
These are exciting times. Precedents will be made. Promises will be broken. Conniving plans will be tested and possibly fail. Shady characters behind these plans will eventually be revealed. The likes of Siromi, Temo, Rabuku, and other “highly intelligent and qualified” indigenous extremist nationalists will be shitting themselves. How dare Devanesh Sharma, a “kaindia” challenge God’s chosen people.
These jokers will spend these 4 years in power trying to jail FFP leaders. They will not achieve anything except to prove and confirm that they are incompetent and devoid of any intelligence.
Interesting times ahead. Can’t wait to see the outcome of Devanesh’s application.
You and me both
Brutal !! I can’t walk anymore.
I am not sure if anyone else sees it, but the Acting CJ looks like and has dressed up like Santa Claus. Maybe that is why we cannot take him seriously.
Fiji is really a circus. The government is full of clowns and monkeys – and proudly so may I add. You see they all were appointed by God himself, or is that herself? Remember these people are God’s chosen people from the Lost Tribe of Jerusalem.
Vinaka vakalevu, Turaga, for you are, as they say in 7s, the “playmaker” in this game that has been going on disastrously for 16 months since the opening whistle.
A super test for the independence of Fiji’s judiciary, integrity, investor confidence, and lots more.
Vinaka, Graham, for updating us all, including Fred’s mob at Gordon St!
Isa, so very true.
Graham, you have stood your ground and we hold so much respect for you.
You have always spoken up for what you believe is right as a journalist. You praise where praise is due. You acknowledge where acknowledgement is due. And you apologise accordingly. That’s responsible journalism.
You have stood up for dignity of women in Fiji.
I hope Fijian journalists at home are learning.
Thank you once again.
You are very kind. Thank you. I don’t always get it right but I try.
Graham, I can confirm a complaint to the Victorian Crime Stoppers has been filed against the drug activities of a Fijian minister.
Tic…..tic…….tic
Onya GD. Vinaka vakalevu.
I am glad that this is happening.
The justice system has to uphold the supreme law of the land for everyone. For now, it is unsafe with illegally appointed justice leads.
What this also means is all convictions and cases can be reappealed in Fiji because of these illegal appointees. The taxpayers are paying for these fools and the stupid AG in Fiji.
Fiji Law Society – where are you all? Why so quiet on this?
Majority of current coalition of idiots have been and remain unemployable in the real world. Same could be said of too many senior civil servants appointed on ethnicity, affinity, family ties and favortism, and whom you know rather than what you know. You put inept unmotivated half educated nitwits in charge, you get the results we see and shake our heads in shame. And we wonder how we got here in this utter mess. No respect for the rule of law, just personal interests and vengeful use of the court system.
Any court system is an essential part of a government and plays a key role in upholding the rule of law and ensuring justice for all citizens. How do people not recognize reasons why a court system is important– especially in Fiji where we have this legal mess because we seem to ‘administer’ the courts to suit political, personal, vinditive and vendetta-based agendas. Do they not know that a fair, impartial, judiciary is important where justice is dispensed according to law without fear or favor. Some examples of all transparent and independent courts to promote and advance confidence in the system for the people include:
Adjudicating disputes: The court system provides a forum for resolving disputes between individuals, businesses, and government entities. Court decisions must ensure that legal disputes are resolved in a fair and impartial manner.
Protecting constitutional rights: Courts have the power to interpret and enforce the Constitution, ensuring that laws and government actions are consistent with the principles of individual liberty, equality under the law and unbiased due process for all.
Punishing criminal behavior: By holding individuals accountable for their actions, helps to maintain public safety, deter criminal behavior, and promote respect for the rule of law.
Checking government power: Courts serve to check on government power, especially government overreach by reviewing the constitutionality of laws and government actions.
Ensuring fairness and justice: The court system must be committed to upholding fairness and justice for all individuals, regardless of their race, gender, religion, or socioeconomic status, provide a neutral forum for resolving disputes, where decisions are based on the law and facts of the case rather than personal biases or prejudices.
Where to from here is not something I might bet the farm on. Native lease farm to boot. And yet the want a bigger piece of the pie from the economy. Work, get off your filthy asses and work! That’s how the real world does it.
Stuff movies are made of.
Sales Temo is biased judge he is hell bent on throwing Qiliho and Bainimarama to prison on the orders of incompetent AG Siromi Turaga