The other accused are Feoko Gadekibau, Barbados Mills, Sivaniolo Naulago, Metuisela Mua, Eparama Waqatairewa, Kaminieli Vosavere and Pauliasi Ramulo. Fiji-born NZ businessman Ballu Khan who was arrested, beaten and deported a year ago, is implicated but not charged.
State Counsel, David Toganivalu, asked the then head of Military Intelligence Unit, Major Isireli Narawa, about his first meeting with Ratu Inoke. He said he met the first accused, Ratu Inoke, at the Sofitel Resort in Nadi in 2007 where the plans to assassinate the commander were made known to him. The Major told the Qaranivalu he did not want Ballu Khan at the meeting, and this was agreed.
Ratu Inoke said the plotters had the backing of the vanua, a number of [Methodist?] churches in Kinoya, Nabua and Cunningham (Greater Suva) had been organised to carry out a rally on the day of the assassination, and an interim administration had been planned. "We basically need to get the prime minister out, to kill him," he was told.
Major Narawa said the military first heard rumours of an assassination plot around February-March 2007, and in a bid to draw out elements planning the assassination, had "released intelligence officer Lance Corporal Peniasi Kuli into the community to gather information undercover."
Kuli, the first State witness, had told the court he posed as a disgruntled senior army officer, willing to support the removal of Bainimarama, when he has first visited Ratu Inoke in a Nadi hotel room on 24 October 2007. He gave the chief his support and an assurance that “he could arrange for the entry of the assassination team into the army barracks on the execution day to carry out the plan”.
Major Narawa said he informed Bainimarama and the Police Commissioner the following day about the situation and the matter was referred to the Military Council. The police were not informed at that time because the military were unsure of the loyalty of the Police Special Branch and Police CID unit.
Further evidence was given by Lance Corp. Kuli that former Fiji nationalist politician Apisai Tora would supply the weapons. Defence counsel Iqbal Khan asked Kuli where he got this information, and Kuli said that he heard it from one of the accused. Khan then questioned Kuli about his statement to the Police on the 11th of September, 2007 that one of the accused Barbadoes Mills and businessman Ballu Khan would provide the explosives/ Kuli said it was another accused, Sivaniolo Naulago, who had told him about the explosives, and that he had a "dry run" of the plan at a training session with four other men at Wailase in Naitasiri. Altogether he had attended 14 meetings with the accused to plan the assassination.
Major Narawa said that Ratu Inoke told him that former politician Peceli Rinakama was out in the highlands gathering ex-military personnel for the cause, and that money had been sent to New Zealand to purchase the arms and weapons.
Ratu Inoke also told Major Narawa he had the support of the international embassies including NZ, Australia, USA and the British embassies and Ratu Inoke alleged that the Australian Embassy had given $1 million to kick-start the economy if something happens. Fiji Live wrongly reported the sum as one billion dollars. Major Narawa said Commodore Bainimarama, the then Chief of Staff, Colonel Samuela Saumatua and the Commissioner of Police, Commodore Esala Teleni were briefed on the plan by him.
The trial continues on Monday. Photo: FijiLive.
With reluctance but in fairness, I have accepted the advice of several readers not to publish comments while the trial is still in progress. Comments already published have been deleted.
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Several readers have asked that I don't allow comments while the case is before the court, and I have decided, with reluctance, but in fairness, to accept their advice. So, please, no more comments until the trial has concluded.
I will,however,continue to summarise reports published by the Fiji online media.
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