Lawyers defending Fiji coup plotters George Speight and 16 top henchmen today attempted to have treason charges dismissed but hearing on their application was deferred for 10 days. The 17 were back before chief magistrate Salesi Temo in the Suva Magistrate`s Court and were again remanded to their prison island until September 4.
As today`s hearing was taking place, Suva was awash with reports of another coup but there were few signs of additional security measures. There were few supporters outside the court unlike previous hearings. Meanwhile, authorities confirmed police commissioner Isikia Savua had been suspended pending an inquiry into his role in the May 19 coup.
Speight, under his Fijian name of Ilikini Naitini, and others are charged with treason for intending to levy war against the president. They are also charged with seeking to put constraint on the legislature and for taking it over by gathering arms and using armed force to overthrow the legitimate government of the republic of Fiji on 19 May , 2000 and on following dates.
The charges appeared to ignore an amnesty granted to Speight in return for his release of deposed Prime Minister Mahendhra Chaudhry and his government taken hostage on may 19.
Bureau Report