Overview

• Bainimarama, who led Fiji for 16 years, was convicted for halting an investigation into the University of the South Pacific.
• The court accused him of abusing his power by instructing the police commissioner to ignore corruption allegations.
• Despite his popularity and previous electoral victories, Bainimarama’s legal troubles have escalated since his 2022 electoral defeat.
• Supporters gathered outside the courthouse, highlighting his continued influence in Fijian politics.
• His sentence was influenced by character references from former presidents, though he remains in custody.