Treason charges against Fiji coup leader George Speight and his co-conspirators are likely to be dropped soon, political and diplomatic sources said Thursday.
Their impending release on bail on minor charges could follow the failure of the states Public Prosecution Office and the Police to gain adequate evidence for the capital treason charges, sources told AFP.
Their release would outrage an international community already irritated at the slow return to democracy in Fiji and open new tensions between the interim government and the Fiji Military Forces (FMF), the sources say.
The latest developments were revealed as further charges of treason were brought against an ex-civil servant.
Simione Drole, a former Public Works Department employee who was alongside Speight during the storming of Parliament, was remanded until December 20.
In a separate development, treason charges were withdrawn Wednesday from four other conspirators.
Sources have blamed the moves on lack of legal talent and despondency rather than a conspiracy to avoid justice.
Unrelated sources confirmed that there were high-level fears Fiji would fail to prosecute the plotters. However another official said this did not apply to Speight who would "be made an example of".
On May 19 Speight and others attacked Parliament and held Prime Minister Mahendra Chaudhry and his government hostage for 56 days.
On May 29 the FMF dumped the constitution and declared martial law. Later it appointed an interim government led by Prime Minister Laisenia Qarase, which made no secret of its support for the reasoning, if not the methods, behind the coup.
On July 26 Speight was arrested by the military, initially on arms and unlawful assembly charges. He was later charged with treason.
New Zealand aid initially funded two leading lawyers to work with prosecutors, however the interim government has indicated to Wellington that they did not want the men back.
Speight and nine others, including once special forces soldier Ilisoni Ligairi and journalist Jo Nata, are currently being held on Nukulau Island near Suva, pending a full hearing of their treason charges.
On Wednesday Chief Magistrate Sailesi Temo, sitting on Nukulau, found insufficient evidence to hold the four released conspirators, former director of Fiji intelligence Metuisela Mua, lawyer Tevita Bukarau, Eroni Lewaqai and Viliame Sausauwai.
Mua in particular was frequently seen at Parliament during the hostage drama and at several key moments was involved in close consulations with Speight and Ligairi.
Defending the decision not to proceed against the four, acting director of public prosecutions Jo Naguilevu said in a statement it was made after careful evaluation of the evidence gathered so far.
He added a total of 114 statements have been obtained by the police in relation to the case. The assessment of these statements, he said, were made on the basis that each case must be looked at separately.
Diplomatic sources said the international reaction to any Fijian failure to prosecute would be severe, with New Zealand already expressing unhappiness with the situation – AUCKLAND (AFP)
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