Trial

The charge being brought against Bainimarama is attempting to pervert the course of justice and Qiliho is facing one count of abuse of office.

The allegations are related to a complaint filed by the University of the South Pacific in July 2019 concerning the actions of former staff members of the regional university.

According to the public prosecution office, Bainimarama and Qiliho are alleged to have arbitrarily and in abuse of the authority of their respective offices directed for the termination of an active investigation.

About 90 relatives will speak at the high-security court in Schiphol over the next three weeks.

International investigators say the plane was shot down with a missile fired by pro-Russian rebels.

Three Russians and a Ukrainian are on trial but none will appear in court. All four have denied involvement.

The Malaysian Airlines flight was travelling from Amsterdam to Kuala Lumpur on 17 July 2014 when it was downed. It crashed in the Donetsk region, about 50km (30 miles) from the Russia-Ukraine border.

The former leader is facing bribery, corruption and perjury charges.

Two other former ministers are also standing trial, after a complaint by former opposition leader and current deputy prime minister, Ishmael Kalsakau, last year.

When the Supreme Court trial began this morning the public prosecutor said last minute documents needed to be supplied to the defence lawyers.

It is understood these documents concerned new prosecution witnesses who had not been listed during the conference of the lawyers.

The pilot programme has the potential for more ni-Vanuatu workers to follow.

Vanuatu will test Remotely Piloted Aerial Systems (RPAS), commonly referred to as “drones”, and the services offered by that industry using an important commodity - lifesaving vaccines. Successful applicants are being challenged to demonstrate the value and suitability of the drones in solving a key development issue – the supply of vital vaccines to children in otherwise inaccessible communities.