Fiji Village Link
Three prosecution witnesses appeared in the assassination plot trial earlier today as the prosecution tries to present evidence to prove that certain meetings occurred in 2007, which was aimed at conspiring to murder the Prime Minister Commodore Voreqe Bainimarama and others.
President of the Fijian Teachers Association Tevita Koroi gave evidence that he received a call from one of the accused, Sivaniolo Naulago in September 2007, requesting Koroi to arrange a private meeting room for Naulago and a small group.
Koroi stated that he knew Naulago as the General Manager of Pacific Connex, who they were in consultations with to upgrade their IT system, and so he made some calls and arranged for them to use a room for their meeting.
State witness Lance Corporal Peniasi Kuli had said earlier in the trial that they had one meeting in September 2007 in a room at the FTA Hall at Knolly Street.
He revealed that the meeting started at 8pm, and he said in court that accused, Sivaniolo Naulago asked the three members of the Territorial Forces Luke Soa, Saula Lasagavibau and Sevuloni Kaidreli and him, on the type of weapons they were going to use to execute the plan.
Kuli said they gave their ideas that M16's, silencers and AK47's were to be used.
Another witness who took the stand today was Anita Degei who is a Reservations and Sales Agent for the Sofitel Hotel.
She revealed that on October 26th, 2007, Ballu Khan, who had booked three rooms at the hotel, paid for the rooms and other bills.
She said Khan paid in cash after requesting that the expenses for the three rooms be put under his bill.
Lance Corporal Kuli had earlier said during his cross-examination that some meetings occurred at the Sofitel Hotel.
Makoi based van driver, Hazel Khan gave evidence that he picked five men from RB Centerpoint in Laucala Beach on the morning of September 22nd, 2007 and took them to Nadi to watch the final of the Sanyo cup.
Khan revealed that he took the men to Sabeto before driving them to the game.
He said he returned soon after and that it will be difficult for him to identify any of the passengers on that day and that he never went to the Sofitel hotel.
The eight accused persons charged with conspiracy to murder Commodore Bainimarama, Aiyaz Sayed-Khaiyum and Mahendra Chaudhry are Naitasiri high chief, Ratu Inoke Takiveikata, Feoko Gadekibau, Barbados Mills, Sivaniolo Naulago, Metuisela Mua, Eparama Waqatairewa, Kaminieli Vosavere and Pauliasi Ramulo.
Three prosecution witnesses appeared in the assassination plot trial earlier today as the prosecution tries to present evidence to prove that certain meetings occurred in 2007, which was aimed at conspiring to murder the Prime Minister Commodore Voreqe Bainimarama and others.
President of the Fijian Teachers Association Tevita Koroi gave evidence that he received a call from one of the accused, Sivaniolo Naulago in September 2007, requesting Koroi to arrange a private meeting room for Naulago and a small group.
Koroi stated that he knew Naulago as the General Manager of Pacific Connex, who they were in consultations with to upgrade their IT system, and so he made some calls and arranged for them to use a room for their meeting.
State witness Lance Corporal Peniasi Kuli had said earlier in the trial that they had one meeting in September 2007 in a room at the FTA Hall at Knolly Street.
He revealed that the meeting started at 8pm, and he said in court that accused, Sivaniolo Naulago asked the three members of the Territorial Forces Luke Soa, Saula Lasagavibau and Sevuloni Kaidreli and him, on the type of weapons they were going to use to execute the plan.
Kuli said they gave their ideas that M16's, silencers and AK47's were to be used.
Another witness who took the stand today was Anita Degei who is a Reservations and Sales Agent for the Sofitel Hotel.
She revealed that on October 26th, 2007, Ballu Khan, who had booked three rooms at the hotel, paid for the rooms and other bills.
She said Khan paid in cash after requesting that the expenses for the three rooms be put under his bill.
Lance Corporal Kuli had earlier said during his cross-examination that some meetings occurred at the Sofitel Hotel.
Makoi based van driver, Hazel Khan gave evidence that he picked five men from RB Centerpoint in Laucala Beach on the morning of September 22nd, 2007 and took them to Nadi to watch the final of the Sanyo cup.
Khan revealed that he took the men to Sabeto before driving them to the game.
He said he returned soon after and that it will be difficult for him to identify any of the passengers on that day and that he never went to the Sofitel hotel.
The eight accused persons charged with conspiracy to murder Commodore Bainimarama, Aiyaz Sayed-Khaiyum and Mahendra Chaudhry are Naitasiri high chief, Ratu Inoke Takiveikata, Feoko Gadekibau, Barbados Mills, Sivaniolo Naulago, Metuisela Mua, Eparama Waqatairewa, Kaminieli Vosavere and Pauliasi Ramulo.
RadioFiji
The Suva High Court this morning heard the whole plan – designed to kill Prime Minister Commodore Voreqe Bainimarama.
Evidence given by Military Intelligence officer Private Saula Lasagavibau reveals a complete takeover of the country was planned by those who were brought in to kill Commodore Banimarama.
Private Lasagavibau told the court this was revealed to him at a meeting he attended with three of the accused in Nadi three years ago.
He says the plans revealed by one of the accused Sivaniolo Naulago was to neutralize the military, kill the Commander, take over key military installations, declare Fiji a police state and dissolve the Military.
The plan also stated that if any Military help was needed the Australia and New Zealand Military forces would be called in.
Private Lasagavibau is still to complete his testimony and he has not been cross examined.
Evidence given by Military Intelligence officer Private Saula Lasagavibau reveals a complete takeover of the country was planned by those who were brought in to kill Commodore Banimarama.
Private Lasagavibau told the court this was revealed to him at a meeting he attended with three of the accused in Nadi three years ago.
He says the plans revealed by one of the accused Sivaniolo Naulago was to neutralize the military, kill the Commander, take over key military installations, declare Fiji a police state and dissolve the Military.
The plan also stated that if any Military help was needed the Australia and New Zealand Military forces would be called in.
Private Lasagavibau is still to complete his testimony and he has not been cross examined.
Suspects ‘planned to make Fiji a police state’
The revelation was made in the High Court today by third State witness Saula Lasagavibau.
He was recollecting a meeting in Sabeto, Nadi in 2007 where an alleged briefing on plans to kill the Army Commander and the granting of amnesty to the perpetrators of the 2006 coup took place.
Lasagavibau said also discovered at that meeting was the idea to send soldiers back to the army barracks and a call up for military assistance from neighbours Australia and New Zealand, if required.
Lasagavibau told the Court the briefing was conducted by defendants Sivaniolo Naulago, Feoko Gadekibua and Barbados Mills.
Lasagavibau said in his testimony he and five men hired a mini-bus from Suva to Nadi to meet the group and be briefed on the plans.
Before the briefing, he said they were searched by fellow army officer Corporal Peniasi Kuli for any listening device or camera.
Kuli had earlier taken the witness stand and testified he first uncovered the plans in 2007 when he managed to infiltrate the group while undercover.
Lasagavibau said after the briefing, the group went to Prince Charles Park to watch the finals of the Sanyo Cup rugby match between Nadi and Naitasiri.
The case continues before Justice Paul Madigan
Other coverage FijiLive Other online newpapers did not cover the trial today
2 comments:
S.O.E.
Something read today made one think about the predicament of Fiji when conspirators get to work.
"As Basra slid towards hell, Blair looked the other way".
Fraser Nelson has this to say about the journey towards War in Iraq:
"It's a mistake to focus on the dodgy dossier. Blair's real crime was to invade Iraq with no strategy, no understanding of the Islamist factions and no qualms about leaving Iraqis to the mercy of death squads".
Does that have relevance to Fiji's predicament? One might think so. What strategic plan was ever in place to see that ordinary Fijians were to have their lives enhanced? Fijians in the broadest sense of the word. Since 1987 there was no strategic plan to build an economy and an enhanced living standard for all: just for some. So what was there to conspire about? Anything worth the considerable effort? Or was it all a PR exercise for Sofitel? And other lamentable venues. What do the Jon Fraenkels and associates have to say of serious worth and validity about that? Do they truly consider the backs turned to Fijians of a former Prime Minister and a former Police Commissioner a commendable sight? Something worthy of emulation in their own countries, for instance? Shame on the lot of them.
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