Defence lawyer Davenesh Sharma told the Magistrates Court in Suva yesterday that his clients have suffered enough and he does not accept the decision of the High Court in finding former Prime Minister Voreqe Bainimarama and suspended Commissioner of Police Brigadier-General Sitiveni Qiliho guilty.
This was his response when asked by Resident-Magistrate Seini Puamau whether he accepted the decision of the High Court or not.
Magistrate Puamau said her Court has accepted the findings of the High Court and that he must too.
When submitting the mitigating factors and his oral sentencing submission, he referred to the Chief Registrar who pleaded guilty to a charge of driving under the influence of alcohol where a non-conviction was recorded and he ordered to pay a fine of $300.
He said the same mercy could be extended to both Bainimarama and Qiliho in this case and the Court before sentencing them should consider sections 4(1), 4(2), 15, and 16 of the Sentencing and Penalties Act 2009.
He said the other case was Suva lawyer, Richard Naidu’s where the Court did not record a conviction against him, and charges of contempt scandalising the court were dismissed.
He said his client the former Prime Minister has suffered enough and that his political career in the future has been disbanded and is not able to contest the next two General Elections.
Sharma said that Bainimarama has also retired from politics.
For his second client, Sharma said Qiliho has also suffered enough and has been unemployed since January 2023.
He said after he was convicted, the special tribunal set to investigate him for insubordination would not have to after he had been found guilty of abuse of office.
Both Bainimarama and Qiliho will be sentenced next Thursday, at 11am.
