A bomb found in a Fiji courthouse was timed to go off during the appearance of coup leader George Speight on treason charges, authorities said on Sunday. Radio Fiji reported that bomb disposal experts defused the bomb in the main court complex in Suva, Fiji's capital, about one hour before it was timed to go off last Friday.
Speight and a key group of advisers made a brief appearance in court on Friday on charges arising from a May 19 coup.
Military spokesman Maj Howard Politini said that the bomb consisting of a section of pipe, an undisclosed explosive, a detonator and timing device - was ticking when it was found in a small garden in the court complex, radio Fiji said. Politini said that it was unclear who was behind the bomb.
Lawyers for Speight are fighting to have charges against him dismissed because of a promise of immunity from prosecution from Fiji's military, which took power after Speight and an armed gang raided parliament and took most of the elected government hostage. Speight and his key advisers were arrested after a 56-day hostage standoff and charged with treason and firearms offenses. They are being held on a prison island off Suva.
State prosecutors argue the amnesty is invalid because it was extracted under duress and because Speight's group had failed to honor an undertaking to surrender all arms used by them in the coup. Speight faces a likely life term in prison if convicted.
Politini said that security measures throughout Suva would be reviewed following the bomb scare. The city has been under curfew since the coup.
Bureau Report