Fiji prime minister’s son arrested in Australia for domestic violence

Sydney, Australia, Sep 12 (EFE).- The son of Fiji’s prime minister has been arrested in Australia after being charged with domestic violence and is due to appear in a Sydney court this week, the Oceanic country’s national broadcaster ABC reported Monday.

Ratu Meli Bainimarama, 35, son of Frank Bainimarama, was arrested Thursday in Queensland State at the request of the state police of New South Wales, where he is charged with alleged domestic violence.

Bainimarama, who is in Australia on a non-resident visa, was transferred to New South Wales on Friday last week and is due to appear in a Sydney court on Thursday.

His father, a commander of the armed forces, seized power in Fiji in a coup in 2006 and then continued as prime minister after winning elections in 2014 and 2017.

In recent years, Frank Bainimarama has become one of the most prominent voices against climate change, which particularly affects Fiji and other Pacific island nations due to rising sea levels and weather instability. EFE

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