Former Fiji prime minister Frank Bainimarama wearing handcuffs leaves the court building after receiving his sentence in Suva on May 9, 2024. Bainimarama was sentenced on May 9 to one year in prison for perverting the course of justice, with a judge finding he used his political clout to shut down a police investigation. Photo: AFP / Kunal Keshneel
Fiji's former coup leader and former prime minister Frank Bainimarama has been sentenced to one year in prison.
Bainimarama was previously found guilty of perverting the course of justice, in relation to a police investigation at the University of the South Pacific.
Suspended police commissioner Sitiveni Qihilo was also sentenced to two years in prison after previously being found guilty of abuse of office related to the same case.
The pair walked out of the High Court in Suva on Thursday in handcuffs and were escorted straight into a police vehicle.
Fijian academic Steven Ratuva spoke with RNZ Pacific's Eleisha Foon about the historic sentencing.
