Fiji ‘coup plotters’ given bail

SUVA – Ten men accused of plotting to assassinate Fiji’s military chief after he seized control of the country in a coup were freed on bail yesterday after prosecutors reduced the charges against them.

The 10 had been in police custody since November 3, when authorities uncovered their alleged assassination plot against self-titled Prime Minister Frank Bainimarama, two other senior military officers and two Cabinet members. The suspects, who include former senior soldiers and ex-lawmakers, were initially charged with five counts each of conspiring to commit murder and one charge of conspiring to incite military officers to mutiny against Bainimarama.Magistrate John Semisi told a court hearing Wednesday that prosecutors had withdrawn the mutiny charges against the suspects, along with two counts each of conspiracy to murder.No reasons were given for the move.Each of the suspects now faces three counts of conspiracy to murder.The maximum penalty for a conspiracy to murder to charge in Fiji is a life sentence, though that usually is interpreted as 10 years in prison.Semisi released the suspects on bail of US$634 and ordered them not to communicate with other alleged conspirators.Semisi scheduled the next hearing for January 21.Prosecutors had earlier also dropped treason charges against the suspects.Among those charged are a former commander of Fiji’s land forces, the former director of the Fiji’s intelligence service.Others are six members of the now-disbanded elite Counter Revolutionary Warfare Unit that failed in a 2000 mutiny against Bainimarama that killed eight troops.New Zealand millionaire businessman Ballu Khan, the alleged financier of the plot, remains in a Suva private hospital with injuries sustained during his arrest.He has yet to be charged by police.New Zealand Prime Minister Helen Clark has expressed concern about Khan’s health and said the plot allegations appeared to be a pretext to round up opponents of Fiji’s military government.Bainimarama seized power on Dec.5 last year accusing the elected government of corruption and having policies that disadvantaged Fiji’s large ethnic Indian minority.Nampa-APThe suspects, who include former senior soldiers and ex-lawmakers, were initially charged with five counts each of conspiring to commit murder and one charge of conspiring to incite military officers to mutiny against Bainimarama.Magistrate John Semisi told a court hearing Wednesday that prosecutors had withdrawn the mutiny charges against the suspects, along with two counts each of conspiracy to murder.No reasons were given for the move.Each of the suspects now faces three counts of conspiracy to murder.The maximum penalty for a conspiracy to murder to charge in Fiji is a life sentence, though that usually is interpreted as 10 years in prison.Semisi released the suspects on bail of US$634 and ordered them not to communicate with other alleged conspirators.Semisi scheduled the next hearing for January 21.Prosecutors had earlier also dropped treason charges against the suspects.Among those charged are a former commander of Fiji’s land forces, the former director of the Fiji’s intelligence service.Others are six members of the now-disbanded elite Counter Revolutionary Warfare Unit that failed in a 2000 mutiny against Bainimarama that killed eight troops.New Zealand millionaire businessman Ballu Khan, the alleged financier of the plot, remains in a Suva private hospital with injuries sustained during his arrest.He has yet to be charged by police.New Zealand Prime Minister Helen Clark has expressed concern about Khan’s health and said the plot allegations appeared to be a pretext to round up opponents of Fiji’s military government.Bainimarama seized power on Dec.5 last year accusing the elected government of corruption and having policies that disadvantaged Fiji’s large ethnic Indian minority.Nampa-AP

In an age of information overload, Sunrise is The Namibian’s morning briefing, delivered at 6h00 from Monday to Friday. It offers a curated rundown of the most important stories from the past 24 hours – occasionally with a light, witty touch. It’s an essential way to stay informed. Subscribe and join our newsletter community.

The Namibian uses AI tools to assist with improved quality, accuracy and efficiency, while maintaining editorial oversight and journalistic integrity.