The release of those imprisoned for killing Nadi teenager, Sakiusa Rabaka, was widely expected following the abrogation of the Constitution, the introduction of the Public Emergency Regulations and the re-appointment of the military installed interim government.
But it has put to shame one of the reasons given by coup leader Frank Bainimarama for the military coup - that Laisenia Qarase’s government was interfering in the judiciary.
In the case of the eight soldiers and one police officer sentenced to a little over four years for the brutal killing of teenager Sakiusa Rabaka, the release from the Natabua prison in Lautoka comes a mere month after their sentencing at the High Court at Lautoka, by Judge Daniel Gounder.
Under Fiji’s Criminal Justice System, one-third of a prisoner's sentence is automatically slashed as soon as he or she enters prison, unless a Court rules that a prisoner serves a term of certain years as witnessed in serious murder cases where life sentences are imposed. Otherwise, life sentence in Fiji means 12-14 years.
Therefore, Rabaka’s killers would have served a minimum of at least two and half years after one-third remittance of their jail term. They would not have been eligible for release until the end of 2011.
Ironically, one of the reasons given by Frank Bainimarama for carrying out a military coup and toppling Laisenia Qarase’s Multi-Party government was that the administration was allegedly abusing the criminal justice system and interfering in the judiciary, with the then Attorney-General Qoriniasi Bale liberating high profile chiefs Tui Cakau Ratu Naiqama Lalabalavu and former Vice-President, Ratu Jose Seniloli from prison under the Compulsory Supervison Order (CSO).
The two were jailed for their roles in George Speight’s coup against Mahendra Chaudhry’s government in May 2000.
Qarase was also accused of approving Seniloli’s salary while he was in prison.
In another case similar to Bainimarama’s accusation of Qarase, Bainimarama’s brother-in-law Francis Kean jailed in 2008 for bashing to death a guest at a wedding in December 2006. He was out of prison after an year, serving the required two-thirds of his jail term.
Kean was paid while in remand and has been re-appointed as Commander of the Fiji Navy –the job he lost when imprisoned.
This blog is a result of the heavy censoring of the media by Fiji's dictatorship regime.
NEWS WORTHY COMMENTS BY YOU!
Few weeks ago Coup 4.5 reported the saga between Fiji One's Satish Narayan and Bainimarama's daughter. Yesterday June 17, 2013 Satish Narayan received his walking papers from Fiji One.
It is understood that Bainimarama called a board member of Fiji One, Padam Lala and told him if Fiji One wants their License in tact, they will have to sack Satish Narayan.
Padam Lala instructed Tarun Patel to sack Satish Narayan immediately, If Patel wanted to keep his job.
The employees of FBC were told of the firing of Narayan way before the employees of Fiji One were made aware of.
Lets hope that Fiji One will not find themselves as part of the FBC in near future. on Burrow: ITUC will push for Commission of Inquiry on Fiji
@2:36 what illegal AG go underground sorry!!! too late.Mr Illegal AG your file is within the military Intel not with Rokoura(PM's office) whom you paid to hide and destroyed files against you that went straight to PM.
Anything against you that son of Neel sharma in HR RFMF rings the bell to Aziz, then you meant to let the complaint follow the channel where you intercept all files against you at PM's office thru Rokoura who hide and destroyed them and you know what he forges PM's singnature on some files and put a [FA]File Away notice on it.
These meant all complaints against you gather dust at Rokoura's residence or he destroyed it completely.
Your private deals with Ports,AFL,TFL,IF etc all filed and kept not there in Fiji its overseas mate !!!
Khaiyum you are comfortable becoz all complaints against you had been filed away by this man Rokoura,not now Mr illegal want to be smart you are exposed to the root!!!
he too one of those used taukei(bought)by you so you can loot as much as you on Burrow: ITUC will push for Commission of Inquiry on Fiji
Editor, we learn from a Fiji Times report that Minister for Housing, Environment, Local Government and Urban Development Colonel Samuela Saumatua has resigned "for personal reasons" according to a statement issued by the Ministry of Information yesterday (FT 18/6).
Be that as it may, my question is why should the Attorney-general Aiyaz Saiyad-Khaiyum "assume the position om an acting basis until a successor was appointed"?
Is Mr Khaiyum the only capable man in the illegal military regime in Fiji? Doesn't he have enough portfolios already?
What would this new addition take the total number of portfolio being handled by this Fiji superman? sincerely, rajend naidu sydney on Burrow: ITUC will push for Commission of Inquiry on Fiji
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These types of news no longer surprise the people of Fiji as these are becoming the hallmark of Bainimarama's decision-making process. The decisions being made by this regime are dictatorial, corrupt and always made in such a way to ensure continuity in Bainimarama's dictatorship!
The world should not be folled into believing that he is trying to improve the lives of the Fiji citizens-far from it!
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