No charges will be laid against Fiji's Prime Minister over a complaint lodged against him by former PM and opposition leader Sitiveni Rabuka.
Sitiveni Rabuka and Frank Bainimarama. Photo: AFP / RNZ Pacific
Rabuka claimed that during the 20th anniversary on the commemoration of the 2000 mutiny at the Queen Elizabeth Barracks in Suva on 2 November last year, Frank Bainimarama had made comments against him.
Rabuka alleged Bainimarama's comments could 'incite animosity or distrust' within groups of people in the country.
During the event, Bainimarama described Rabuka as a "snake" and said the Social Democratic Liberal Party (SODELPA) was better without him.
On Monday, the Director of Public Prosecutions Christopher Pryde decided no action would be taken against the prime minister.
In a statement, Pryde said the police file was sent to his office for an assessment of the evidence and a decision on whether any charges should be laid following Rabuka's complaint.
Pryde said after a review of the police docket and the evidence, there was insufficient evidence to support criminal charges against the Prime Minister.
He said the file has been returned to police with the instruction not to charge and no further action is required.
Rabuka had said comments by Bainimarama could incite communal antagonism contrary to Section 65 (2) (a) of the Crimes Act 2009.
He said it could also generate some feelings within institutions adding that the role of the police and the military was to look after every citizen.
Rabuka said options for him to take legal actions against the prime minister were still open and would be determined by his legal advisers.
"This one is just a report on my concern, as a citizen and a holder of Constitutional office, that can be taken as inciting and even taken as a seditious remark because it could generate some feelings within those institutions against the person.
"And so I'll leave it to them to interpret the law the way they see it and they will report back on their findings."
