SUVA, Fiji, Feb 13, 2024 (BSS/AFP) - Fijian former prime minister Frank 
Bainimarama was hit with fresh abuse-of-office charges Tuesday and was to 
spend the night in custody ahead of a scheduled court appearance.

The 69-year-old seized power in a bloodless coup in 2006 and led the Pacific 
archipelago nation until he was voted out in December 2022.

He was newly charged in relation to the unlawful firing of two police 
officers in 2021, the latest in a string of legal woes related to his time in 
office.

The former naval commodore "will be kept in custody at the Totogo Police 
Station tonight, and will be produced at the Suva Magistrates Court 
tomorrow", said senior police officer Mesake Waqa.

Former police commissioner and Bainimarama ally Sitiveni Qiliho was also 
charged. No further details were immediately available.

Just last week Bainimarama was released on bail after spending a night in 
jail on a separate abuse-of-office charge.

The latest allegations against him come after he was found not guilty of 
perverting the course of justice in a third case last October.

Bainimarama had been accused of using his political clout to shut down 
sensitive police investigations or sideline officers unwilling to meet his 
demands.

Former attorney general Aiyaz Sayed-Khaiyum and ex-health minister Neil 
Sharma have also faced charges.