Police Commissioner

The Fiji government has confirmed police commissioner Sitiveni Qiliho and corrections services boss Francis Kean have been 'suspended effective immediately'.

The two will remain suspended pending an investigation by a special tribunal which is yet to be established.

President Wiliame Katonivere has appointed assistant police commissioner Juki Fong Chew as acting commissioner and Salote Panapasa as the acting head of prisons.

Pio Tikoduadua says the commissioner Sitiveni Qiliho has however asked that they follow the process of the Constitutional Offices Commission.

Minister Tikoduadua said he respects his decision, and we will let the law take its course.

The Minister added he has no issue with the Commander of the Republic of Fiji Military Forces.

A border alert has been issued by Fiji's Police Criminal Investigations Department (CID) for Opposition MP and former Attorney General and Minister for Economy, Aiyaz Sayed-Khaiyum.

Albert Nalpini was suspended a year ago, although the reason why has never been disclosed.

It has been reported that it had to do with administrative problems in the police.

The acting commissioner is Robson Iavro, who was the commander of the mobile force.

The Daily Post Newspaper reports the police saying the driver would be prosecuted under the Traffic Act like any member of the public, but it has not said what charge he will face.

Commissioner, Albert Nalpini, had been reported saying he asked the officer to drive him home after he had had some wine at an official function.

The driver was said to have hit the power pole after he had dropped the commissioner at his home.

The Daily Post reported that chief inspector Albert Nalpini will take the role.

Mr Nalpini's appointment was made after the Supreme Court ordered the Police Service Commission to send its recommendation to the Head of State.

The appointment was slow and Mr Nalpini had to challenge the Commission in court in order to have his recommendation sent to President Lonsdale.

The paper reported this was partly due to his recommendation having been made initially when the Commission was led by Api Jack Marikembo, who later lost the role.

Speaking to the media, President Lonsdale said the only way forward to satisfying the criteria of a neutral person to the post is to stick to the requirements under the law.

The Vanuatu Police (Amendment) Act No or 2010 stipulates that the selection of a new Police Commissioner should only be subject to the law and without political interference.

Section (7) of the Act states a person must not be appointed as the Commissioner under subsection (1) unless: 

(b) has served in a senior position within the Force for a period of at least 7 years; and 

Last week the acting commissioner, superintendent John Taleo, was removed from the post with colonel Robson Iavro put in the position temporarily.

According to RNZI, Mr Taleo had been clinging on to the post since being convicted last year of causing an accident in his official car while under the influence of alcohol.

According to RNZI, the President has appointed Colonel Robson Iavro as the new Acting Commissioner.

There was no reason cited for Mr Taleo's removal.

John Taleo's suspension was for an indefinite period to allow the Police Service Commission to conduct an investigation into the accident.

Taleo was convicted in December on two counts of dangerous driving after he was involved in two serious accidents with police trucks while driving official vehicles.

A report has been lodged alleging the Commissioner of Police, Ben Groenewald had obstructed a police investigation involving a foreign diplomat.

ACP Brown said the investigators are continuing with their work and more details will be released at a later date.

Fijivillage has received confirmation that the report against the Police Commissioner was filed by a member of the public after the accident at Edinburgh Drive on Friday night.