Naitasiri high chief Ratu Inoke Takiveikata has just been sentenced to eight years imprisonment by High Court Judge Justice Daniel Goundar after he was convicted of inciting the 2000 mutiny at Queen Elizabeth Barracks. He is not eligible for parole.
Justice Goundar said Ratu Inoke was given the title of Qaranivalu to bring honour upon his people but instead he has brought them nothing but disgrace. The judge said that by turning the soldiers against their own Commander, eight soldiers were killed, 18 were wounded and two civilians were wounded by stray bullets outside Queen Elizabeth Barracks.
Justice Goundar noted that Ratu Inoke had showed no remorse except for a plea of mercy for hnimself, and that after being released from an earlier successful appeal, he had embarked on another dangerous venture to kill the Commander. He said, “Ratu Inoke, you pose a threat to the public safety and you will continue to be a threat to the safety and welfare of the public at large”.
Concerns about defence evidence
The Judge then raised serious concerns regarding the evidence given by Shane Stevens during the trial.
Justice Goundar said that Stevens who is serving a life sentence for mutiny was obstructive and was in contempt of court while giving evidence. Judge Goundar said that observing Stevens demeanor in court, Stevens expressed anger towards the institution of justice and has shown absolutely no remorse for what he had done.
The Judge has ordered that his ruling in the Ratu Inoke Takiveikata trial and his concerns over Stevens demeanor be handed over to the Commissioner of Prisons for consideration when and if Stevens applies for parole or pardon in the future.
Ratu Inoke will serve his sentence concurrently with the current 7 year term for the charge of conspiracy to assassinate the Commander and others.
All the five assessors and Justice Goundar had earlier found Ratu Inoke guilty of inciting mutiny.
6 comments:
When a leader of a community promotes a cause that creates violence and people die or injured - it can't be a worthy cause. Justice prevails!
@ Captain Shane Steven's demeanour....ANGER?
Captain Shane Steven's reported anger at the Justice system can never match the anger that is felt by the taxpayers of Fiji who have:
1. Paid him during his entire career
2. Now pay for him to be kept in Prisons/Corrections
3. Have suffered years of instability and prejudiced development because of his disloyal conduct.
Captain Shane Stevens and all his associates should know that our anger and betrayal are his affair. He shall be held accountable to us - the civilian population of Fiji. Let him and all those who were with him never fail to remember this for the rest of their natural lives.
No less than Capt Shane Stevens, all those responsible for the Mutiny and its execution owe the entire civilian population of Fiji an apology including the Qaranivalu of Naitasiri - accountability has now been delivered but remorse must needs be demonstrated and we shall expect it and we wait for it. Our children and our grandchildren...wait for it. We shall wait enduring years.........
Shane Stevens' reported demeanour in court requires correction. He is kept at the pleasure of the taxpayers of Fiji. Those whose trust he so grievously betrayed and offended. He should spend the remainder of his sentence in making a full reparation to the taxpayers of Fiji, whose annual payments of tax maintain him. Public Money underwrites his very existence. Something he would do well to think about as a daily mental exercise?
Good - off to jail you go.
Sets a good precedent for our latest coup organsier and curent PM who I hope in time will also go off to jail.
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