Fiji's former prime minister Frank Bainimarama charged with inciting mutiny

A former prime minister and former police commissioner in Fiji have been arrested and charged with inciting mutiny.

Prosecutors allege long-serving leader Frank Bainimarama and one-time commissioner Sitiveni Qiliho encouraged senior Fiji Military Forces officers to act against the current military commander, Jone Kalouniwai.

The pair are alleged to have spoken with the senior military officers during a meeting and "grog session" in July 2023 at Mr Bainimarama's residence in the capital, Suva.

Mr Bainimarama faces an additional charge. He is accused of sending text messages through the Viber messaging app to a senior officer urging him to assume command at the time of the military's first parade of 2023.

Inciting mutiny is an offence under Fiji's crimes act.

The pair were arrested on Monday after questioning at the criminal investigations headquarters in Suva.

Both remained tight-lipped and offered little acknowledgement to waiting journalists.

They both spent the night behind bars ahead of a court appearance on Tuesday.

Mr Bainimarama led Fiji for 16 years after taking power in a 2006 coup before losing office in the 2022 election.