Two senior police officers appeared in the Suva Magistrates court yesterday charged with allegedly conspiring to commit a felony, namely mutiny.

The two officers, who are Former Police Directors of Intelligence Special Branch, Rusiate Tuidravu and Berenando Kolinio are alleged to have conspired between the 15th October 2009 to January 2010 to remove Police Commissioner Commodore Esala Teleni from office.

Tuidravu and Kolinio have both pleaded not guilty to the charges and have been remanded in custody.

DPP lawyer Aca Rayawa made an application to remand the two in custody and not to grant them bail, and asked the court to allow Senior Superintent of Police Waisea Tabakau to give evidence on the reason as to why the two should be remanded in custody.    

SSP Waisea Tabakau who is heading the Commissioner of Police Task Force Unit told the court that the two accused should be kept in police custody.

Kolinio's lawyer Mehboob Raza questioned Tabakau if he had tangible evidence to show why the court should not grant bail, to which Tabakau replied that there was sufficient evidence however it will be provided during the course of the trial.

Meanwhile the second accused Rusiate Tuidravu who represented himself yesterday, asked Tabakau if he had any documentation showing the two had breached the two conditions set down while they were under investigation which were that they are not to enter any Police premises and not interfere with witnesses, to which Tabakau revealed that there were no reports of any breaches to the directives issued to the two accused.

Magistrate Kaweendra Nayankara then adjourned the case saying that a decision will be made on Monday and also issued a suppression order to suppress further information relating to certain issues in the case from being made public at this stage.

The case has been adjourned till Monday for hearing on the bail.