(o+) Ba Province Blames Ballu Khan for Million Dollar Losses

    
The people of Ba are blaming Fiji-born New Zealand multi-millionaire businessman Ballu Khan (photo: Fiji Daily Post)  for losses incurred by the Ba Provincial Holdings Limited,  and may take legal action against him. The company belongs to the Ba Provincial Council, which is owned by the ethnic Fjjian people of the Province.


Ba Provincial Council member and Western Shipping Operations manager, Luke Ratuvuki, said Ballu Khan was involved with missing financial documents needed for audit purposes.The Board irectors of the company were unable to form an opinion whether the financial statements given were true because of the missing documents.

Mr Ratuvuki, a former permanent secretary in the deposed Qarase government, said “Ballu Khan is involved. There was some involvement of Mr Khan in the illegal takeover of the Company Board that was headed by Ratu Tevita Momoedonu in August, 2006.  “This was [done] through his company Pacific Connex and the Native Land Trust Board."

Ratuvuki said suspicions were reported to police two years ago and to the FICAC (corruption commission) but it is a complex case involving millions of dollars and many people, locally, nationally and with international links.  “Ballu Khan has been in the picture from Day One and we will prove that he is to blame." The Board is awaiting investigators to verify all facts before pursuing legal action.

Ratuvuki said the people of Ba and the Board wanted answers, justice and compensation.

“The people of Ba are angry ...[the case] has had a widespread effect, not only with people in villages, but also [with] unity. It has split the people of Ba.”

Background
Earlier, separate allegations implicated Mr Khan in 2006 in offering to pay off  SDL party  debts in exchange for business advantage, and in 2007 of financing and possibly master-minding  the assassination plot to kill PM Bainimarama. Subsequent to his arrest in 2007 he was badly injured by police and returned to NZ, having won permanent stay of prosecution because of the police assault.  The unrelated Ba issue could see an attempt to extradict him from NZ to face charges, but it is highly unlikely NZ would agree in the present political circumstances.  Readers wishing to read more on Khan  should type his name in the SEARCH THE BLOG facility. This facility gives access to blog and all other internet reports.

For readers not familiar with Fiji geography, Ba is Fiji's most populous and most economically important province. It has 28% of the country's population; is ethnically mixed (42% Fijians, 54% Indo-Fijians, 4% Others); the main tourist destination; and the major sugar cane, gold and pine producing region. 

(+) Whose Court Smells of Rotten Fish?

The normally "moderate" and well informed anti-Government blog Fiji Today has published what some could believe to be a subtantiated post on the Bainimarama assassination plot trial that claims the  verdict was staged. The post is titled "The Smell of Rotten Fish in the Courthouse."

The blog said in investigating the story it (presumably one of the four editors) held "several clandestine meetings with a senior serving officer in the RFMF" and  from these meetings with this one officer of unknown rank and unknown access to information on military personnel or court procedures, the blog claims it can confirm:

1. The Chief Registrar of the High Court army lawyer Major Ana Rokomokoti is still listed as being on active duty with the RFMF. 
2. The Chief Registrar nominated both the judge and the assessors for this case.
3. Three of the five assessors in this case are serving or territorial members of the military.
4. The lawyers concerned were in no position to argue against the choices of the Chief Registrar Major Rokomokoti as she is also the person who gets to decide if they are issued with a practicing license to be a lawyer.

The blog concluded that the trial was staged, making much of the statistical odds (1 in 2.7 million) of three serving soldiers being randomly selected as assessors.   My information, from legal sources, does not support most of their claims. 

Their first claim is accepted. It is no secret that many military people are currently performing civilian functions. Ana Rokomokoti is a qualified lawyer fully capable of performing the tasks of Chief Registrar.

Their second claim is false. The Chief Registrar did not pick the judge or the assessors. The High Court criminal registry has a system of random case allocation which is monitored by the judges themselves, and not by the Chief Registrar.

Their third claim is also false. No member of the military was an asssessor and defence counsel were specifically asked to verify that this was case.

Their fourth claim is speculation. Assessors are vetted by the prosecution and the defence in a pre-trial conference.

There is no objective way of knowing or testing the professional integrity of the lawyers, the judge or the Chief Registrar, although some I know who attending the trial thought the evidence pretty conclusive, and the assessors' guilty verdict was unanimous.

Disagreeing with their verdict is an insufficient ground to question their integrity.

Murder, Drugs, Threats, Methodists, Gold; Detailed Hurricane Updates and Lessons from the Past

• Short briefs
• Detailed Hurricane updates
• Lessons from Past Hurricanes: Government Action Needed 

Photo. Vatukoula gold mine.

Conspiracy to Murder Trial. FijiVillage provides this useful link to numerous items on the Assassination plot to kill PM Bainimarama. It's also worth bookmarking for later reference. 

Fiji's suspension from regional and international bodies, including meetings of Pacific Police Chiefs, is proving to be an "overwhelming barrier" to addressing illicit drug issues, and their relationship with HIV and domestic violence.

The threats continue.  A warning from Tears for Fiji, an Anti-Government blogger, to Bainimarama: "Your children and your grandchildren will PAY! Mark our words...you may not be around to see them suffer the consequences of your selfish actions, but they WILL! God works in Mysterious ways!"

Some 130 Methodist senior ministers and officils will meet PM Bainimarama on Wednesday, when they will seek some lifting of restrictions on meetings. The restrictions were imposed because government said the church was being used for political purposes.

Gold used to be Fiji's third most important export earner, after sugar and garments, until production ceased in 2006. This year, with new owners, the revitalised Vatukoula mine sold more than 15,000 oz of gold, worth £4.6m, in the three months ending in February, up from 8,826oz in the previous three months. Ultimately, the company aims to produce at least 100,000 oz a year as the result of a major drilling and redevelopment programme.  The mine employs over 600 local workers and has a proven resource of over 4.3m oz. For a an aerial video around Vatukoula, click here.

Detailed Hurricane Updates

Bainimarama thanks foreign governments. "I wish to thank the governments of Australia, New Zealand and France for their assistance. I understand other countries have shown their willingness to assist in the rehabilitation and re lief work, which would be forthcoming once detailed assessments have been carried out."
Click  here.


The official death tolls is unchanged at three. Overseas tourists earlier deemed missing in the North and East have now all been accounted for.

Red Cross praises government. Fiji Red Cross's Alison Cupit  said she was "absolutely delighted with the way the public authority responded and worked with Disaster Management Committee. Since 1993 this is the best response and coordination effort I have seen."  She also commended the PM's declaration of a state of disaster in the Northern and Eastern Divisions [that saw a] swift response from our neighbors and donors alike.... Before on many occasions there was no communication between Red Cross and other relevant authorities and work would take ages to be finished," she said.

Hurricane Costs. The Disaster Management Office (DISMAC) expects an estimate of the cost of damage to be ready by next week.  The areas most affected were Cikobia, Vanua Levu, Lomaiviti, and Northern and Central Lau. Over 300 houses have been destroyed. The Works Ministry estimates that at least $3m will be needed to repair infrastructure damaged in the Northern Division. Extra earth-moving machinery has already been despatched to the North Division, and Vanuabalavu, Cicia and Lakeba in the northern Lau group.

A Hotline  (Phone 3683042) for Farmers has been opened by the Ministry of Agriculture from 8am to midnight daily. Permanent Secretary, Mason Smith, encouraged farmers to use planting materials they had while awaiting Government help. The Ministry is focusing on short-term crops to help normalize the food supply ASAP, and has started distributing seeds and planting materials to farmers affected by the hurricane that destroyed crops on Vanua Levu, Taveuni, Lomaiviti and Lau.

Thousands of damaged yaqona plants have been lifted for early sale at low prices in Vanua Levu. Yaqona can be harvested after one year but is best left for five or six years. It is grown over most of Fiji but in Vanua Levu most growers are in Cakaudrove tikina, that includes south Taveuni. The destruction will mean many families will be without a major cash crop for several years. Other food crops such as bananas and cassava will take 6-9 months to recover.
   
Australian and NZ relief supplies, including tarpaulins, tents, blankets, 10-litre water containers and water purification tablets, have been ferried to Vanua Levu by a Consort Shipping vessel, and to Lau and Lomaiviti by the government vessels Iloivatu and Raiyawa. Earlier, relief supplies on government vessel Kula eached Cikobia, to the north of Vanua Levu, which was the island first hit by the hurricane. Agriculture Officer Nacanieli Takele reported more damage to crops than to houses on island. A pleasing feature of the tragedy is the way Australia and NZ have worked closely with the Fiji government and the Fiji Red Cross. 

The local Cyclone Appeal had raised $68,543 by Saturday.  The total includes a donation of $50,000 by the ANZ Bank and $15,000 by the Fiji Times. Fiji Broadcasting and Save the Children Fiji organized a Concert of Hope in Albert Park, Suva, on Saturday to raise funds to help children affected by the hurricane.

Schools with no roofs. Students of Uciwai District School in Keteira, Moala, Lau will have to start school this week in a badly damaged building. Teachers and the School Committee have managed to rebuild one classroom and the restroom. Meanwhile the Education Ministry is sending stationery and school supplies to the Lau group where 21 schools were extensively damaged.

Disease Threat. With piped water damaged, freshwater supplied contaminated by sea water, and rain-soaked ground leaving higher water tables allowing seepage from damaged toilets and septic tanks in areas most affected by the hurricane, health inspectors have been on the ground from Day One attempting to ram home the message that safety of water supplies, general village cleanliness, boiled drinking water and personal hygiene are key factors in the health of hurricane-affected communities. An outbreak of disease will be catastrophic for the people burdened by rehabilitation work and health officials who must operate from damaged facilities with limited supplies.  With pools of stagnant water, piles of rubbish, fallen trees and leaves, the potential for dengue-carrying mosquitoes to breed is also enormous.

(B) Lesson from Past Hurricances:
Building Codes Need to Apply to Villages

"Jon's" valuable comment to an earlier post on the hurricane

"In the mid 80’s, after cyclones Eric and Nigel, Fiji’s National Building Code and the Fiji House Building Manual were drawn up in an attempt to mitigate the damage caused by future cyclones.

The Code and Manual are loosely based on the Australian and New Zealand building codes, including Australian wind and NZ seismic codes. Both are easy to read, liberally undispersed with sketches for easy understanding and, just as importantly, are cheap to buy.

The preamble to the House Building Manual notes “…we have tried to retain… the current local building practices. We have also tried to ensure that the use of the Manual does not contribute to any material increase in the cost of houses. Where there is marginal increase it will be substantially offset by an increase in the safety and durability of the house.”

However, we still read stories such as “Only cyclone proof homes left standing on Cikobia” – 20  years after the Code was introduced. The reason is simple – no government of the day has made it a requirement for the Code to be compulsory in Fijian villages. In fact in many acts relating to building, such as the Health Act and Environment Act, Fijian villages are specifically excluded.

If this government intends to make fuller use of productive land by way of its land reforms, one of the starting points will be to include all Fijian villages and squatter settlements in the legislation designed for everyone’s protection – Building Code, Health Act and Environment Act. District Officers should then be responsible for ensuring that all new buildings erected in villages are inspected to ensure compliance with the code.

In this way villagers (as most of us in urban areas already are) can be spared the trauma of losing their homes and having to start from scratch, which just reinforces the cycle of poverty." 

P.S. For readers less familiar with Fiji, formal and informal ethnic Fijian villages  are excluded from health and other regulations applied to urban areas, even when the villages are "urban" to most intents and purposes.

They have been excluded by the simple expedient of drawing town boundaries to exclude these urban villages. Nowhere is this better seen than in the string of villages between Nadi town and airport, and in Lami to the west of Suva, where town boundaries weave back and forth to exclude traditional and informal villages. -- Croz.

Peoples' Charter Progress, Media Decree, Arrestee "Disappears," Kamikamica Embezzlement Charge, NZHighCom, Bio-Fuel on Koro

Short Briefs

(o) Peoples' Charter. The second meeting of 16-member National Peoples' Charter Advisory Council (NPCAC)  was held on Tuesday at the Parliament complex in Veituto to discuss progress reports from various ministries on the progress of the Peoples Charter in 2009, and government programmes to be delivered in 2010. Photo: Parliament complex, Veiuto. Click to enlarge.

The National Council and its sub-committees will play an advisory role providing support to Government  which is the main implementing authority of the Peoples' Charter for Change, Peace and Progress. The Council's responsibility is to monitor progress,carry out civic education and conduct dialogue on important national issues. The outcome of today’s meeting will be presented to the Prime Minister and Cabinet. 


(o-) Media Decree. A media authority and tribunal could be introduced soon, after which PERS, the Public Emergency Regulations will probably be lifted. Highlights: the Tribunal will probably he headed by a judge; all media organisations will be registered; criticism that the system is too controlling will need to be backed by facts. Consultations with media organisations excluding the Fiji Times and Fiji Television will begin next week.

Comment: the Decree aims to foster "responsible journalism", a worthy goal but the balance is an extremely fine one, unlikely to be achieved until an elected government replaces the military. The military mind seems to demand a level of obediance that is unhealthy in a democracy society. Similarly, genuine dialogue, which the consultations presumably seek, requires the inclusion of contrary and questioning opinion. The process is not off to a good start with the military-led goverment excluding the Times and FijiTV. Nothing is gained by exclusion, and much is to be gained by inclusion. Government well-wishers, including this blog, urge it to reconsider the exclusion.

(+) Kamikamica and embezzlement charge.A bench warrant has been  issued for the arrest of former Roko Tui Rewa Savenaca Kamikamica for failing to appear in Court on Tuesday. Kamikamica is alleged to have embezzled more than $11,000 meant for development schemes from the Fijian Affairs Board while holding the position of Roko Tui Rewa. Ridding Fiji of corruption is part of the Roadmap.

(-) Military detains Rinakama. Former FAP MP Peceli Rinakama is reported by blog Coupfourpointfive to have been arrested by soldiers last Friday and his whereabouts are still not known to his family. Rinakama was arrested from the Toorak, Suva, home of Naitasiri High Chief Inoke Takivekata, where together with "other subjects and friends" he was drinking yaqona soon after the latter had been found guilty of attempting to murder PM Bainimarama, a charge that was made and then withdrawn in December 2007 against Rinakama. In other words, Rinakama was one of the eleven people then thought to be co-conspirators.       

The military has the power under the Public Emergency Regulations to arrest people deemed to be holding a meeting and, in the circumstances, this is what they seemed to be doing, but they do not -- at least in my books -- have the right to detain anyone for this length of time without charge, without legal counsel, without informing next of kin, and without the right to receive visitors. They most certainly do not have the right to beat the arrested. Two weeks ago a group of men including deposed SDL MPs were arrested drinking yaqona at the SDL offices, allegedly beaten and released five to nine hours later.

This blog is deeply concerned that the Bainimarama goverment has condoning this behaviour by its silence, and just as concerned that it apparently cannot see the damage such actions do to its reputation -- and the plausibility of the Roadmap.

(o) The NZHighCom  welcomed Acting Head of Mission Philip Taula on Monday with an  isevusevu ceremony using a tanoa presented by the late Maori Queen, Te Arikinui Dame Te Atairangikaahu, to former president, the late Sir Kamisese Mara. Taula, a career diplomat,  will be responsible for a staff of 55, including 48 locals.

(+) Bio-Fuel on Koro island, Lomaiviti Group. The PM will launch Fiji's first bio-diesel plant, in which diesel is made from copra, on Koro today. The plant will benefit 14 villages on the island. In addition to the final bio-diesel product, the milling of coconut oil can be transformed into cooking oil, body oil, soap and copra meal, which can be used as feedstock for livestock production and fertiliser. The development is part of the Roadmap to improve rural Fiji infrastructure.

(+) The Reserve Bank has released  new criteria to be followed by financial institutions in the appointment of CEOs.

Free advertising?  Last week I floated the idea of offering businesses whose activities support the Fiji economy free, non-intrusive advertising. One person responded positively. What do other readers think? Several anti-government blogs include "automatic" advertising for which they are paid. Please comment, and if you think it a good idea, say what businesses (or types of businesses) you would recommend.

Plot Updates, Ballu Khan, EU Talks, Methodists, Women's Rights, Wages, Poverty, Commonwealth

Short Briefs
Photo: Williams and Khan. Solomon Times.
NZ lawyer slams Fiji trial. Peter Williams QC is arguably New Zealand's best known and most respected criminal lawyer. His link to Fiji is his success in obtaining a permanent stay of prosecution for Ballu Khan, an acquittal that now looks of doubtful justice. The QC is questioning the validity of the court process in the Assassination plot case:

"I think the international press should make some inquiries into the validity of the trial and how the panel was put together and who appointed the judge and who appointed the assessors ... And whether or not those appointments were made by the military and if so wasn't the military one of the main participants in the trial itself; one of the parties ... All the evidence came from the military, the victims are supposed to be military so it would be a very interesting exercise if somebody - a journalist - was prepared to dig in and have a look at those lines of inquiry."

The remarks suggest he was caught on the hop by a journalists' phone call. They lacked the precision and care of a considered response: his "panel" and "assessors" are one and the same; he seemed not to know that all judges since the Abrogation of the Constitution last June are appointed by the Attorney-General's office (and all lawyers have  their licences renewed by the same office); the military, so far as we can know, had no involvement in the selection of judges or assessors; the asssessors were routinely selected from a list of 160; those selected were agreed to by both prosecution and defence lawyers; most (not all) of the evidence came from the military, as might be expected in this particular case; the original charge included two civilian intended victims and one who escaped being charged was his former client Ballu Khan . [See previous post on assessor selection procedures.]


Ballu Khan. Police are now analyzing the High Court judgment and sentencing of the eight men convicted of conspiracy to murder PM Bainimarama before deciding on the steps, in any, should be taken in relation to businessman Ballu Khan whose name was mentioned in court a number of times during the course of the trial.

Justice Paul Madigan said he had "no doubt" that the plot was hatched by, orchestrated by, and directed by Ballu Khan, probably in concert with his business partner Ratu Inoke Takiveikata.

Khan had been initially charged as one of the conspirators but High Court Judge Justice Andrew Bruce granted him a permanent stay on all proceedings because his personal rights and his rights to a legal counsel were breached by the police and the RFMF and that he was unlawfully  and unconstitutionally detained for a substantial period of time after his arrests.

Fiji-EU talks to iron out political landscape. A new bilateral agreement between Fiji and the European Union has been drafted under the Cotonou Protocol to take into account Fiji’s current political situation.The draft agreement will be discussed in a series of meeting expected to start in Suva later this week.

Ministry of Foreign Affairs permanent secretary Solo Mara says the new agreement is aimed at replacing the current agreement that was enacted in 2007.The EU have stopped all aid to Fiji following the 2006 coup but have now agreed to hold substantial dialogue with Fiji. The multi million dollar sugar aid package that is being withheld by the EU will also be part of the agenda.

Methodists grievances. The Methodist Church has invited PM Bainimarama to speak at its three-day meeting from March 22-24 so that he may hear their grievances. The invitation was sent after permission was granted to the church to conduct the three-day meeting for its senior superintendents and stewards.

Methodists charged. Eighteen Methodist Church in Fiji ministers who have been charged with breaching Public Emergency Regulations.The group were part of a church standing committee meeting that allegedly breached their permit to conduct a meeting in July last year.

Women's rights improving. In opening the national celebrations to mark International Womens' Day in Suva yesterday, Acting Minister for Women Dr Neil Sharma  said Fiji has made a lot of headway towards ensuring equal opportunities for women. There are more than 300 women members of Hospital Boards and they’re also represented in all spheres of the civil service; new laws, including include the Domestic Violence Decree and the Employment Relations Promulgation, will further protect women and enhance their status in society, and 90%  of the 24,000 beneficiaries of the Small and Micro Finance Scheme are women. Government also intends to address the future representation of women in Parliament.


Wages and Poverty. Wages Council Chairman Father Kevin Bar says over 40% of the population are poor and the wage rate has become a major concern requiring immediate steps to be taken. Many can't afford to send their children to school or afford decent housing and they live in squatter settlements. Many can't afford proper health care or good nutritous food. "And so is it any wonder when we learn that although they are in full time employment, 60% of our workers are earning below the poverty line. There is a strong connection between that statistic 60%  and the 40% living in poverty.”

Commonwealth Day was celebrated in Fiji yesterday, despite its suspension from the Commonwealth.  If it was also celebrated in NZ, I must have missed it.

(o+) Blog Again Distorts Facts: the Assassination Plot Trial

The Coupfourpointfive blog has published the names and some personal details of the five assessors in the Assassination trial.  To what purpose, we can only guess but my guess is that it's a form of intimidation. My understanding is that the the identity of jurors in a NZ trial are deliberately not made public for this very reason. The blog then went on to distort two important facts relating to the selection of the assessors and their implied bias.

In what can only be seen as manipulation of the facts (or ignorance and manipulation by the person supplying the facts),  Coupfourpointfive condemned the appoint of the court assessors on the grounds that they were chosen by the the Chief Registrar of the High Court, former army lawyer Major Ana Rokomokoti.

As the blog knows full well, many government positions have been filled by army personnel, often because otherwise suitably qualified people would not apply for senior positions due to Australian and NZ travel sanctions. And as those advising the blog should also know, the Registrar did not "choose" the assessors.

The Criminal Procedure Decree 2009 spells out quite clearly (208-2) how accessors are chosen. They are selected from a list of 160 people (gazetted at least three weeks before the trial, revised and gazetted again at least three days before the trial to allow lawyers on both sides to vet them) in "rotation in the order in which their names appear on the list" and both prosecution and defence lawyers can object to any one of them (224-1 and 2).

Coupfourpointfive then stated that "at least three of the assessors or their family have close acquaintance with Commodore Bainimarama, either through friendship or as a former student of Marist Brothers High School. Bainimarama is an ex-student."  The implication was that their verdict was therefore biased.  In a small city where many families know each other, this is hardly surprising but, if the relationship was "close" as claimed, section 224-3 expressly states that the “The Court shall decline to permit an assessor to serve on a case if the judge is satisfied that the grounds the objection are properly based upon (a) the relationship, by whatever means, between the assessor and the accused person, or any other person associated with the trial of the matter.. [or] (c) any proven or possible propensity for the assessor to favour either party for whatever reason …[or]  (d) any other matter which the court is satisfied in the interests of justice, should disqualify the assessor.”

I'd be surprised if more than one Coupfourpointfive publisher and the person who supplied them with the accessors' names did not also know at least one of the assessors or their family -- or been to the same school. Even I know at least one person who is a close acquaintance of the Coupfourpointfive editors. 

I shall have a full posting on the trial outcomes later in the week.

Fiji Assassination Plot: Photos of Those Found Guilty

Naitasiri high chief Ratu Inkoke Takiveikata is escorted to the police bus after receiving a jail sentence of 7 years. The other seven accused also got jail time by Justice Paul Madigan. (1. Sivianiolo Naulago- 7 years, 2. Faeko Gadekibau-5.5 years, 3. Kaminieli Vosavere- 4 years, 4.Eparama Waqatairewa-3 years, 5.Pauliasi Namulo-3 years, 6.Barbados Mills-6.5 years,7. Metuisela Mua-3.5 years. --Fiji Live.

Lawyers for the eight men sentenced today for conspiring to kill Fiji’s Prime Minister Voreqe Bainimarama said they will appeal the prison terms dished out today by Fiji’s High Court.Suva lawyer Akuila Naco told Fijilive they will take a two-week break after a hectic four weeks of court appearances.“We will appeal to the Court of Appeal after two weeks,”

It would appear from this statement  that the verdict will not be appealed, which I find surprising.

(o) Breaking News: Guilty Sentenced to 3 to 7 Years

Guilty sentenced to between three to seven years. It seems likely they will appeal.

Ban on Dancer "Appalling," Australian Rules, Fiji Times Reports, Tourism, Provincial Development

Short Briefs

Vou dance groups' principal dancer has been refused a entry permit to perform in Auckland Pacific Festival.  This is an international festival organized by our Pacific Islands community and should be exempt from the bans.

Photo: Fiji Times.

NZ readers are urged to write, email and  otherwise contact their MPs and any others, including the festival organizers,  who may help to reverse this appalling decision, and if this is too late, to record their protest.  We note that often-quoted Nik Naidu of the Auckland-based Coalition for Democracy is reported by RadioNZ to have said the decision is "fair."  Does anyone know how many members Nik's group has, and how representative it is of the Auckland Fiji  community?  I continue to press for more flexibility in the bans, which most  informed observers now agree have been ineffective and counter-productive. The festival starts tomorrow March 6.

No vote, we're playing Australian Rules. Jenny Hayward-Jones seems to think Australian aid gives it a claim to lead Pacific nations. "This is the only region," she says,  "that Australia - which is giving more than $1 billion of development assistance this year - can reasonably claim to lead." Well, I never!

Assassination trial

The Fiji Times reported "a charged silence followed by outpourings of disbelief" when the assessors' verdicts were read in the High Court on Wednesday, while "Ratu Inoke was a picture of stoic acceptance and so were the other accused, politely nodding while dealing with apologetic handshakes and embraces."  

The Times, that has until now been rather sparse with its court coverage,  did, however, have the good grace to note that the jam-packed courtroom included family members of the accused, a following from the legal fraternity, and members of SDL party. But I wonder: if censors were responsible for its earlier lack of coverage, why did they allow this? 

One anti-government blog  chose to report what Ballu Khan had to say (but not Judge Madigan) while another called it a kangaroo court, despite the fact that the decision of  all five Assessors was unamimous, and all five had been accepted by both prosecution and defence lawyers. I fear that dialogue with such bloggers, and the people they speak for, is pointless. Their minds are set in concrete. Perhaps more generally this is what Bainimarama has already decided. There' s little point asking a  concrete or brick wall  for an opinion.

Tourism. There were Some 45,362  visitor arrival in January, an increase of 38% on January last year, despite negative publicity in the main source countries. Australia still topped the list (up 65%) ; New Zealand was up 50%, UK/Europe  up 22%, USA up 4%, Taiwan up 219% percent from a small base, and several other Asian countries showed increases. Visitors from Japan, Canada and the Pacific Island countries declined 13%.  The figures indicate a welcome return to normal after 2009, that had the "worst figures in recent years."  Jetstar will  soon join other airlines (Air Pacific, Air NZ, Qantas, V Australia and Pacific Blue) flying into Nadi. 

Modest economic recovery. Fiji’s economy is expected to make a modest 1.9 percent recovery in 2010. The positive outlook fis supported by economic recovery in selected trading partner countries, with an expected pick up in export demand and higher visitor arrivals.

The Ministry of Provincial Development is seeking to complete major projects -- better roads, water, electricity supply and farming assistance -- some of which were promised by previous governments. This is part of the Roadmap.

Free advertising? Many blogs, including some anti-government blogs, include advertising for which blog their publishers are paid. I am considering including non-obtrusive free advertising for companies that help the Fiji economy. What do readers think?

(o) Assassination Plot: Who were the Assessors?

With so much depending on the public and overseas reception of the guilty verdict against the eight men charged with plotting to assassinate Bainimarama, it is important readers know more about the Assessors who brought down this verdict. 

Some 600 people applied to serve on a panel of assessors. The panel is approved yearly by the Chief Justice  and the list is gazetted. The assessors in the Assassination plot trial were picked by the High Court Registry and their names were given to lawyers on both sides who had the right to object. Where there are objections they are normally replaced. In this case defence and prosecution agreed to each of the assessors. For further information, look at the Criminal Procedure Decree on assessors and the right of objection.

Related items

New Zealand "utterly rejects" the claim by one of the defendants that it was in any way involved in the assassination plot.

Defence lawyers have applied for non-custodial sentences for all  eight to be sentenced on varied grounds: minimal involvement, good character, first offenders, second chance, age, sole breadwinner, ill health, treatment while in detention, and entrapment (the argument that they were talked into the plot by undercover soldier Kuli).

Ballu Khan, although deeply implicated, cannot be charged because  he won  a permanent stay of proceedings against him. Khan now lives in Auckland.

Justice Madigan will announce sentences at 3:30 pm today.

(0) Assassination Plot: Judge Madigan's Summation in Full

IN THE HIGH COURT OF FIJI

AT SUVA

CRIMINAL JURISDICTION

CRIMINAL CASE NO. HAC 009/2008

THE STATE

Applicant

vs

1. 
   
   FEOKO GADEKIBUA
2. 
   
   BARBADOS MILLS
3. 
   
   SIVANIOLO NAULAGO
4. 
   
   METUISELA MUA
5. 
   
   EPARAMA WAQATAIREWA
6. 
   
   KAMINIELI VOSAVERE
7. PAULIASI NAMULO

Respondents

Mr D. Toganivalu for the State

Mr A. Naco for 1^st Accused

Mr. I.Khan for for 2^nd, 3^rd, 5^th – 8^th Accused

Mr. M. Raza for 4^th Accused

Summing Up

Ladies and Gentlemen assessors; we have now come to the stage in the trial where it is my duty to sum up the evidence to you; and to direct you on the law. You will then be required to deliberate together and each of you must give a separate opinion whether each accused is guilty or not guilty of the charge.

2. Our functions in this trial have been quite different throughout this trial. The law has been, and remains, my area of responsibility and I must now give you directions as to the law which applies in this case. When I do so, you must accept those directions and follow them.

3. The facts of this case are your responsibility. All of the Counsel have made very strong speeches to you and you will wish to take into account the arguments advanced in those speeches you have heard but you are not bound to accept them. What counsel say in their closing addresses is not evidence. You may accept what they say or you may reject what they say: it is entirely a matter for you.[Click to read more]

(o) Assassination Plot Update 3.3.10: Guilty

UPDATE 7:00pm. Justice Paul Madigan said he is satisfied beyond reasonable doubt that the men are guilty of conspiracy to murder.  He said he was also satisfied beyond reasonable doubt that the men conspired with Ballu Khan and others to commit the felony. Sentences will be made tomorrow. 

Those found guilty are Naitasiri high chief, Inoke Takiveikata, former spy chief Metuisela Mua, businessman Sivaniolo Naulago, and five former Counter Revolutionary Warfare soldiers who had all been Mr Khan's bodyguards. A week ago Justice Madigan dismissed charges against the accused that they conspired also to murder the attorney-general, Aiyaz Sayed-Khaiyum, and the former finance minister, Mahendra Chaudhry. 

Eight found guilty in kill plot trial

March 03, 2010 01:22:01 PM

Fiji high chief Ratu Inoke Takiveikata and seven others have been found guilty on charges of plotting to assassinate Prime Minister Commodore Voreqe Bainimarama and other senior members of government in 2007. The unanimous decision was delivered by a five-member team of assessors in the High Court in Suva moments ago. Assessors are advisers to the Court whose decision can be ovrruled by the judge. The verdict came after several hours of closed door deliberations. According to one source, Justice Paul Madigan will deliver his judgment at 4.30pm today, while another says 9:00am tomorrow. 

Tuesday's hearings
 The former director of the Fiji Intelligence Service, Colonel Metuisela Mua, said military state witness's allegations against him and others were fabricated
and indicated that someone was lying. Mua said: the military intelligence unit who gave evidence against them did not have any legal mandate; did not properly analyse the information; there were inconsistencies in State witness Lance Corporal Peniasi Kuli's report claiming they plotted to assassinate Commodore Bainimarama; the 14 secret meetings alleged by Lance Cpl Kuli were not properly graded; Major Isireli Narawa's statement that he met with Inoke Takiveikata at the Sofitel Hotel in Nadi was false, and that only the police were permitted to do this in accordance with the Police Act.The Prosecution’s case in the trial of eight men accused of trying to kill the Prime Minister, has been likened to the US case against the late Iraq president Saddam Hussein.

Defense lawyer Iqbal Khan likened the  claims against his clients to the US case against Saddam when intelligence reports that Iraq had weapons of mass destruction turned out to be false. He said the prosecution's case was similarly built on false information. Khan said military intelligence officers Corporal Peniasi Kuli and Major Isireli Narawa should also be in the dock alongside the accused because they too conspired to kill the PM, as they tried to get the accused involved. The case has not been proved beyond reasonable doubt.Countering this claim  Director of Public Prosecutions lawyer David Toganivalu said inconsistencies by prosecution witnesses are not unusual. There doesn’t need to be direct evidence to convict someone in the court of law. All prosecution witnesses had placed the accused  at the scene of the 14 meetings that were allegedly held to discuss the assassination plot. And it was no coincidence that all the former CRW soldiers were working for Ballu Khan and that they had motive to try to kill Commodore Bainimarama because they tried it once in the year 2000.

Judge sums up
Link  one. Link two. Justice Paul Madigan urged assessors to put aside their political views and any feelings of sympathy or prejudice, and arrive at their opinions calmly.The assessors have retired behind closed doors to come to a verdict.  FijiVillage has a fuller  posting

(o) Assassination Plot Update 1.3.10

Last week closed with the last witnesses called. Tomorrow Tuesday defence or prosecution defence lawyers will make their concluding remarks.The following reports were published late last week.

David Robie's blog Cafe Pacific, reporting the dropping of charges of conspiracy to murder Aiyaz Sayed-Khaiyum and Mahendra Chaudhry because of "ambiguous" evidence, writes:

"Ironically, the Citizens’ Constitutional Forum today also issued a statement calling on the regime to take urgent action over the independence of the judiciary. Reverend Akuila Yabaki, director of the CCF, called on the government to invite the UN Special Rapporteurs on the Independence of Judges and Lawyers to visit Fiji as soon as possible." 

The charge of conspiracy to murder Bainimarama still stands.

Ratu Inoke takes the witness stand.

Accused Barbados Mills gives evidence
Former Counter Revolutionary Warfare soldier Barbados Mills  said his involvement in the alleged assassination plot against Army Commander Voreqe Bainimarama was because he was under threat from the military, “whether we took part or not, we’d face the full brunt of the military”. Mills today told the court that State witness Corporal Peniasi Kuli initiated the plot to kill the PM and members of his Cabinet, not his group.

Mills said in one of their meetings, he asked Kuli what weapons they were going to use in the assassination and Kuli gave a verbal list. “I was at the meeting because I wanted to see what he was up to. I wanted to see what was going to happen. “It was never my intention to join him in his plan,” Mills told the court. He said he never once called Corporal Kuli. “Kuli was always calling me. He was harassing me, pushing me for this execution plan to go ahead,” he said.

Mills said he never trained with Kuli and his group at Wailase, Naitasiri. State prosecutor David Toganivalu suggested that Mills had trained Kuli and his men to take over the 3FIR, to which he said, no.“Thirteen skilled CRW tried to take over the army camp but couldn’t. These guys are not skilled, it would be a bloodbath,” he said. He added that the 3FIR was the most dangerous place in the military, the most populated and well-armed and it would not be possible for a small group to do it.  Mills said that even though he was only 15 metres away he could not kill the Commodore because "it was not his orders." He was ordered to secure the Officer’s Mess [and] "when orders are given, we follow them. The legality of orders are the responsibility of my superiors."

Mills also claimed the assassination plot came within the Military Council because they "didn’t like the way Commodore Voreqe Bainimarama was running the government, as he was taking it in a direction different from what the Council wanted." He was told this by Kuli who mentioned Major Isireli Narawa. Mills also denied all allegations that he called Kuli up to hold the 14 meetings to discuss about the plot.

He told the court the only reason he was tolerating Kuli was because he was trying to find a solution to try and diffuse the situation because the former CRW soldiers were being watched and threatened by the Military. He has not reported the meetings "because he had lost faith in the Police Force."

Sivaniolo Naulago gives evidence
Naulago, the General Manager of Ballu Khan's Pacific Connex, claimed military officers who assaulted them during their arrest were making racist comments against Ballu Khan and claimed in court of constant harassment by the Fiji Military Forces after the events of December 5th 2006.His co-accused were hired to work as Security guards for Ballu Khan.

(o) Assassination Plot Update 24.3.10

Dramatic Development 

 

The eight men in the assassination plot trial have been acquitted of the second and third counts of conspiracy to murder the Attorney General Aiyaz Sayed-Khaiyum and former Finance Minister Mahendra Chaudhry but the first count of conspiracy to murder the PM Bainimarama still stands.

Defence notes that forensic evidence was not collected from Ballu Khan's residence.

High Court Judge accepts evidence from the attempted mutiny that followed the Speight 2000 Coup.

Military Council Questioned me: Ratu Inoke

Ratu Inoke told the court that he was summoned by the Military Council in late September 2007 to a meeting at the Queen Elizabeth Barracks.Ratu Inoke said the meeting was to have been between him and Colonel Tevita Uluilakeba Mara but this was cancelled. However later the same day he was called again but this time told that he would be meeting the Military Council and members of Cabinet.

Ratu Inoke told the court that he clarified to those present at the meeting, that the rumours were false and there was no plot to assassinate Commodore Voreqe Bainimarama. He also told the court, that while Pacific Connex was still in partnership with the Native Lands Trust Board in 2007, officers from the 3FIR regularly visited their office.

Ratu Inoke, who was director for Pacific Connex at the time, says he was present on one occasion when 3FIR officers came and told former CRW soldiers not to try anything. The former CRW soldiers were being employed by Pacific Connex at the time.

---Radio Fiji,Wednesday, February 24, 2010

Assassination Plot Update 22.2.10

• Mills threatened to kill me:Ramulo
• Defence questions Fiji and English  translation. Court clarification
• Police officers told what to ask

Mills threatened to kill me:Ramulo

Friday 19 Februry 2010

 An accused person in the alleged plot to assassinate the Army Commander Commodore Voreqe Bainimarama and others alleged in his police statement that one of the accused, Barbadoes Mills threatened to kill him if he informed anyone of their plans.

(o) Assassination Plot Update 18.2.10

The Fiji on-line press is scarely reporting this trial. I wonder why? There's some mention in Fiji Village and FijiLive. The Fiji Sun and the Daily Post have poor on-line facilities. And there's been almost ziltch in the Fiji Times. Perhaps they are waiting for an acquittal. 
 Hence, for the time being, I'm limiting my "coverage." The only print media source that is giving any sort of coverage is  RadioFiji.

Qualification: Commenting on this post, a reader says state censorship is the reason the trial has limited mention in the mainstream media.

Chief says he was planning his wife's birthday. Naitasiri high chief Ratu Inoke Takiveikata denied allegations that he and seven other men were plotting to assassinate, Commodore Voreqe Bainimarama, when he was arrested and charged in 2007, saying he was planning his wife's birthday party at the time of the alleged meetings. Ratu Inoke also told Police his relationship with businessman Ballu Khan was only professional as they were both directors of the company Pacific Connex.  Link.

Police officer recalls interview with accused Barbados Mills. Interviewing officer, Corporal Samisoni Ralulu read out transcripts of the interview with third accused Barbados Mills which revealed details of a meeting held in Nadi in August 2007.
Mills told the officers that the military intelligence officer, Lance Corporal Peniasi Kuli contacted him a day earlier and asked him for a meeting in Sabeto as he was running out of time with his assassination plan. Mills agreed to meeting Naulogo.At the meeting, Kuli brought up the assassination plan which was to shoot Commander Bainimarama and make a run for it. Mills said in his interview that he was very cautious about the plan because he was very concerned about his own safety. Present at the meeting was Peniasi Kuli, Barbados Mills and Sivaniolo Naulogo.The meeting was held at a vacant farm house opposite the Sabeto junction.

The case is adjourned for tomorrow. [For? to? I'll let you know.] Link.

No medical treatment for accused.  Link.

The case is adjourned for tomorrow. [For? to? I'll let you know.]

(o) Assassination Plot Update 17.2.10

Former Fiji elite troops 

had guns: Witness

Tues. 16.2.10

Former CRW soldiers told undercover intelligence officers that they had the guns to assassinate Prime Minister Commodore Voreqe Bainimarama, a prosecution witness informed the Suva High Court today.Territorial Force soldier Luke Toa was giving evidence in the trial of eight men accused of trying to assassinate Commodore Voreqe Bainimarama. Toa told the court he heard one of the accused Barbados Mills tell military intelligence officer Peniasi Kuli that they had the guns. Toa asked Mills why he didn’t bring the guns with him so they could use it for their planned training exercise. He said Kuli then asked Mills if these were the guns from Vanua Levu but Mills said no. Defence lawyers questioned Toa why he didn’t follow up with Mills about the whereabouts of the guns.Toa says he couldn’t because the meeting lasted only ten minutes before they dispersed.Toa adds that he didn’t enquire any further about the guns because he was more preoccupied with uncovering the assassination plot.Kuli and Toa said in their testimony they were sent undercover by the Military to gather information from former CRW soldiers about the whereabouts of missing guns.

Link.

Kill Methods Unveiled Before Court

Wed. 17.2.10 11:30am

A sniper shot, food poisoning or motor vehicle collision were possible ways to remove Fiji’s Prime Minister Voreqe Bainimarama and members of his Cabinet, Fiji’s High Court heard today. State witness Major Isireli Narawa said he recommended these types of assassination methods to the group on trial while acting undercover for the military.

When cross examined by defence lawyer Iqbal Khan, Narawa said that was what he had mentioned in his statement to police.“The statement was given in the context of the operation we were doing,” he said. Narawa, who is the army Chief Staff Officer Intelligence, said the idea to trick the accused on trial into believing he was genuine was suggested by Corporal Peniasi Kuli, the army mole that first uncovered the alleged assassination plans.Khan then asked Narawa whether their aim then was still to locate the missing arms from the 1987 and 2000 coups, as alleged earlier. Link.

=--

Defense Counsel questions report

Wed. 17.2.10 Noon

The credibility and accuracy of reports compiled by the Military Officer sent to gather information on the plot to assassinate Commodore Bainimarama and others was scrutinized by the Defense Counsel this morning. In cross examination, Defense Counsel Iqbal Khan questioned the Head of the Military Intelligence Unit, Major Isireli Narawa, as to how accurate and credible the information being brought to him by Lance Corporal Peniasi Kuli really was.In going over the report, Khan asked Narawa if the information was credible because two issues highlighted in the report said otherwise.

Khan stated that the report said that Ballu Khan had the missing weapons and ammunition, however no weapons were found and also Kuli had stated that Apisai Tora would be bringing the guns and ammunition however this also never happened.

Narawa replied that he trusted his source and all information given to him.Khan also questioned Narawa as to why the fourteenth report compiled by Sergeant Waqa on the alleged meetings with the Qaranivalu were never given to the Police when he gave his statement on the 3rd of November 2007. Khan asked Narawa why he only gave his Power Point presentation as this was only a summarised version of the fourteen reports given by Sergeant Waqa on the alleged meeting, to which Narawa replied that, at that time, the Police only asked for the Power Point presentation.Khan then asked Narawa why the fourteen detailed reports were given later on the 28th of August 2008 and not given when he gave his first statement. Narawa maintained that the Police just asked for the Power Point presentation.

The case continues.  Link.

Kill trial witness unreliable: Defence

Wed. 17.2.10

The credibility of a state witness in the trial of eight men accused of plotting to assassinate Commodore Voreqe Bainimarama was questioned today by defence lawyers.

Defence lawyer Iqbal Khan told the High Court that prosecution witness Lance Corporal Peniasi Kuli’s credibility was questionable as a source for the military intelligence unit.

Khan, in cross examining another state witness, the head of military intelligence, Major Isireli Narawa, said Kuli allegedly gave wrong information to the army. As an example, Khan said Kuli had told military intelligence that Ballu Khan and Apisai Tora would provide the weapons for the planned assassination of the Prime Minister.Khan says this never happened and no weapons have been found.

However Major Narawa refuted Khan’s claims and told the court that he had faith in his source, and found the information provided by Kuli as very reliable.

The trial continues this afternoon with submissions from the three defense lawyers.

The trial continues before Justice Paul Madigan and five local assessors.

 Link.

(o) Assassination Plot Update 12.2.10

• Kill suspect soldier ‘hated Commander’
• State witness blames Police

Kill suspect soldier ‘hated Commander’

One of the soldiers accused of being part of an alleged plot to kill Fiji’s military commander and Prime Minister Commodore Voreqe Bainimarama hated Bainimarama and wanted him killed, a fellow soldier has told the High Court.

State witness Sevuloni Kedreli was testifying during the trial of eight people accused of plotting to assassinate Bainimarama, Attorney-General Aiyaz Sayed-Khaiyum and then Finance Minister Mahendra Chaudhry in 2007.

Kedreli said during a meeting in Nadi in September 2007, he and other soldiers were briefed by two other, then Counter Revolutionary Warfare (CRW) soldiers Feoko Gadekibau and Barbados Mills and IT consultant Sivaniolo Naulago. All three are among the eight accused.

When asked what Mills had told the men, Kedreli quoted Mills as allegedly saying, “I don’t like this man because of what he is doing”. Kedreli confirmed that Mills was referring to Bainimarama.

Kedreli told the court the only reason he was involved was because he was asked by alleged military spy Corporal Peniasi Kuli to help in locating arms that had gone missing from the Parliament complex during the 2000 coup.“I agreed to help because we are related,” Kedreli testified. “He wanted me to obtain information from the CRW guys on the missing arms,” he said.

During a second meeting at the Fijian Teachers Association hall in Suva, Kedreli claimed Naulago confirmed that plans were well in place and arrangements were being made to get weapons.

He added that Naulago had requested millionaire businessman Ballu Khan to bring in 30 weapons to carry out the alleged plot.
FijiVillage similar report  link.

State witness blames Police

A state witness in the trial of eight men who allegedly plotted to assassinate Prime Minister Commodore Voreqe Bainimarama today suggested in Court that the Police didn’t write his statement properly.

Territorial Force soldier Sevuloni Kaidreli made the suggestion after defence lawyer Akuila Naco told him that his evidence in court was different from his statement to Police. Kadreli said police officers who interviewed him may not have written his statement properly. However, he maintained that he was not lying to the court and that he wasn’t coached to say what he was telling the court.

Kaidreli also failed to corroborate the testimony given by a fellow military intelligence officer.
The officer, Saula Lasagavibau, had told the court yesterday that he was present at meeting in Nausori with the alleged plotters.

But Kaidreli says he couldn’t remember or recall seeing Lasagavibau at the Nausori meeting they held with the accused.

The case will resume on Monday. FBCL Link.

No comments are allowed on this case until the trial concludes.

(o) Assassination Plot Report 11.2.10

Michael Field reports in Stuff. Good court coverage and background information. Link.

Witness: Ballu Khan was Weapons Man. Link.

Judge warns defence lawyer (yesterday). Link. 

 Plot was to be executed during Christmas 2007

Published  11/02/2010 [12:52]

A Military Intelligence Officer has told the Suva High Court this morning that the alleged plot to assassinate Prime Minister, Commodore Voreqe Bainimarama and others was to be executed during the festive season in December, 2007.

This was revealed by the State witness Auta Natuinivalu who is currently being cross examined by Defence Counsel, Mehboob Raza. Natuinivalu told the court that one of the accused, Sivaniolo Naulago, told him that the plan was to be executed during the Christmas period when all the soldiers would be on leave.

Upon questioning by Raza, Natuinivalu stated that his mission in the group was to recover the weapons which they believed was missing since the 1987 coup and they have been searching ever since.

When questioned on what efforts were made to enquire where the weapons were, Natuinivalu responded they were told by one of the accused that the weapons will be bought, and the arrangements were to be made by businessman, Ballu Khan. He said no time frame was given.

Natuinivalu said that he was surprised to hear of the arrest of the accused persons in November, 2007 but he said he was not surprised that Lance Corporal Peniasi Kuli was also arrested as he was part of all the meetings that took place. He told the court he did not contact Kuli after that.

Raza also questioned the witness on whether five to six men could attack the Military camp and take over the Armoury. Natuinivalu said this could not be done and he did not know whether the others would have been involved.

Raza continues to highlight the discrepancies between Natuinivalu's police statement and his evidence in court regarding the exact time and days for the meetings that took place at that time. Natuinivalu responded by saying that when he was giving his statement, he was questioned for about four hours and he was tired and just wanted to go home.

During the cross examination Raza also questioned the witness on why his group leader Peniasi Kuli constantly reminded them of staying true to the RFMF. Natuinivalu responded that Kuli kept stressing the point to them that they must  remain true to the RFMF as in the past experience during the 2000 coup, some of the undercover military personnel who were in Parliament did not carry out the orders. The cross examination continues.

(o) Alleged Assassination Plot Case Continues

Reports from three four sources

Three prosecution witnesses appears in assassination trial

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.

Click on Read more to continue.