The appeal against the conviction of former Prime Minister Voreqe Bainimarama and suspended Commissioner of Police Sitiveni Qiliho is still afoot and a date is pending.
This was highlighted by FijiFirst founding member Aiyaz Sayed-Khaiyum during a media conference in Suva late last week.
Sayed-Khaiyum said an appeal was filed on 18 March in the Court of Appeal and this is against the conviction of the High Court.
He said that the Magistrates Court had acquitted both Bainimarama and Qiliho at that time; however, the High Court overturned the lower court’s decision – convictions were entered into the record and the decision was sent back to the Magistrates to sentence the two prominent figures.
He said the State then appealed which led to the custodial sentence today (last Thursday).
“From a legal perspective, the appeal that was filed to the Court of Appeal on 18 March is still on foot, and we are waiting on that date regarding that particular appeal that was filed.”
“Of course, we do not want to comment on anything else because of legal matters, the matter is still before the courts,” Sayed-Khaiyum added.
