Fiji 'assassination plot' eight go to jail

Eight men in Fiji, including Naitasiri province paramount chief Ratu Inoke Takiveikata were jailed for between three and seven years for their role in what prosecutors say was an attempt to assassinate army chief Commodore Voreqe Bainimarama in 2007. About 200 people, some of them emotional, turned up for the sentencing on 5 March 2010. The men were convicted two days earlier. THE CHARGE Each of the eight men were charged with one count of conspiracy to murder, contrary to section 217 of the Penal Code, Chapter 17, Laws of Fiji (note that the Penal Code has been replaced from February 2010 by the Crimes Decree). The target of the murder plot was army chief Commodore Voreqe Bainimarama. The men were alleged to have plotted the assassinated attempt between August and November 2007, when they were charged. THE ACCUSED 1. Ratu Inoke Takiveikata - Naitasiri high chief, Na Qaranivalu 2. Feoko Gadekibau - former Counter Revolutionary Warfare unit soldier 3. Barbados Mills - former Counter Revolutionary Warfare unit soldier 4. Sivaniolo Naulago - former employee of Ballu Khan, who had charges dropped against him in 2008 5. Metuisela Mua - former director of the army's intelligence service 6. Eparama Waqatairewa 7. Kaminieli Vosavere 8. Pauliasi Namulo THE CASE State prosecutors alleged the men plotted to assassinate Commodore Bainimarama in 2007. Additional charges of attempting to assassinate other members of the military-led government were dropped. During the month-long trial prosecutors said the men had planned to bring in weapons to shoot Bainimarama. They called more than 30 witnesses, two of them army officers who as double-agents became part of the group. One of the soldiers told the court the group discussed the plan in meetings held at several places including at Ratu Inoke's building and the offices belonging to Ballu Khan's company Pacific Connex. The defence lawyers argued that there was entrapment and that it was army spies who first raised the idea of an assassination. The defence also highlighted the fact that no weapons were ever found. THE VERDICT On 3 March 2010, all five assessors returned a guilty verdict on all the men after deliberating for several hours at the end of the month-long trial. Justice Paul Madigan concurred, saying he was satisfied beyond reasonable doubt that the prosecution had proved its case, before convicting the men. THE SENTENCES The charge carried a maximum of 14 years imprisonment. 1. Ratu Inoke Takiveikata - 7 years 2. Feoko Gadekibau - 5 years, 6 months 3. Barbados Mills - 6 years, 6 months 4. Sivaniolo Naulago - 7 years 5. Metuisela Mua - 3 years, 6 months 6. Eparama Waqatairewa - 3 years 7. Kaminieli Vosavere - 4 years 8. Pauliasi Namulo - 3 years Defence lawyers Akuila Naco and Iqbal Khan indicated they would appeal the case.