Fiji’s former Prime Minister
Frank Bainimarama has been granted permission by the High
Court to travel to New Zealand to accompany his sick wife
for medical treatment.
Bainimarama, who lost power in
December 2022, is facing charges in two separate cases. One
involves allegations of inciting mutiny alongside former
police chief Sitiveni Qiloho, while the other concerns a
health tender case alongside his former Attorney-General
Aiyaz Sayed-Khaiyum and former Health Minister Dr Neil
Sharma. He pleaded not guilty in both cases.
According
to local media, Bainimarama’s wife has been bedridden for
weeks due to a spinal infection and needs to travel to
Aotearoa for treatment.
Bainimarama is his wife’s
primary carer, local media reported.
The Office of the
Director of Public Prosecutions (ODPP) opposed the variation
of bail, citing concerns about delays to his current court
cases if he were allowed to leave the country.
High
Court judge Justice Daniel Goundar made the ruling via Zoom,
local media report.
“Justice Daniel Goundar has
granted former prime minister Voreqe Bainimarama permission
to travel to New Zealand with his wife for urgent medical
treatment, temporarily suspending his travel restrictions
and relevant Stop Departure Orders,” The Fiji Times
reported.
“Justice Goundar said the medical evidence
established an urgent need for overseas treatment and that
Bainimarama’s presence would provide important practical and
emotional support during his wife’s
hospitalisation.”
The newspaper reported that
Bainimarama is permitted to make a single trip to Auckland
and must return to Fiji no later than 3 December.
The
former prime minister is also required to provide his travel
itinerary, address in Auckland, and a telephone number to
the court registry and the
prosecution.
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