Former
prime minister of Fiji, Laisenia Qarase, has been sentenced to one year in jail
for corruption. Qarase was ousted during a 2006 coup after being democratically
elected.
Fiji's
former prime minister, Laisenia Qarase, was sentenced Friday to one year in
jail on corruption charges. Qarase was convicted on nine charges of abusing his
office and failing to perform his duties.
Court
documents say the 71-year-old Qarase failed to disclose a private investment
interest in three companies that he was helping manage in an official capacity.
The charges
are related to his time as a director of a government investment company called
Fijian Holdings from 1992 to 1995, when prosecutors said he put the interests
of his family and home village before the public.
His
supporters say the charges were politically motivated. Commodore Frank
Bainimarama appointed Qarase caretaker prime minister in 2000 following a coup
by ethnic Fijian nationalists. Qarase went on to win democratic elections in
2001 and 2006.
The
military leader Bainimarama later accused him of corruption and causing racial
strife by favouring indigenous Fijians over the ethnic Indian minority and
appointed himself prime minister.
Judge
Priyantha Fernando rejected defence pleas for a non-custodial sentence because
of Qarase's age and poor health. "We wish to make it very clear that
people in high office who abuse their power will be required to serve an
immediate prison sentence," the Fijilive online news service quoted Judge
Fernando as saying.
He said he
would not give a suspended sentence "because the consequences for such a
person is severe. Your actions are not only illegal but against moral
values."
Security
was tight around the court and the Fiji Broadcasting Corporation quoted a
police spokesman saying officer numbers had been increased to "deal with
any issue that will arise."
Bainimarama
has made his disdain for Qarase clear.
New
constitution
Bainimarama
has promised to hold free elections in 2014. Fiji is drafting a new
constitution ahead of the elections, which will likely include provisions to
prevent convicted criminals running for office.
Many
international organisations, including the European Union, British Commonwealth
and the Pacific Islands Forum imposed sanctions on Fiji in protest at
Bainimarama's 2006 coup.
The New
Zealand and Australian governments announced Monday that they would relax
sanctions to encourage Bainimarama to proceed with the elections he has
promised.
hc/rg (AP, AFP, dpa)
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