TV1 6pm News Headlines (First Segment)

Fiji Crisis - Hostages Update- Speight’s Fate - Fiji Violence - Speight Accepts Deal - Sex In Prisons- Casino Control Authority - Morgan Fahey - Phantom Bidding

FIJI CRISIS: A draft report from Fiji President Ratu Sir Kamisese Mara suggests the democratically elected Government of Mahendra Choudhry will be replaced. The report also suggests a prosecution amnesty for the coup leader George Speight.

HOSTAGES UPDATE: The report also says it would be impossible to use force to beat the hostages who are held in such a way that one grenade will kill them all.

SPEIGHT’S FATE: But any moves to put George Speight in an administration is greeted with anger by both the Government and opposition MPs in New Zealand.

FIJI VIOLENCE: Sporadic violence has broken out across Fiji including a fire ball which burst from the factory of Speight’s former employer who sacked Speight last year over misappropriation of funds.

SPEIGHT ACCEPTS DEAL: It is understood that George Speight has accepted President Mara’s deal. The TVNZ correspondent calls the current crisis a power struggle between sections of the native Fiji population.

SEX IN PRISONS: The Government has ruled out sex in exchange for good behaviour in the country’s prisons. Corrections Minister Matt Robson suggested the idea of conjugal rights for prisoners as a reward for good behaviour. He has also suggested children under five be allowed to live with their mothers in prison.

CASINO CONTROL AUTHORITY: The Casino Control Authority is under the spotlight tonight and building for a casino in Hamilton is continuing despite a High Court ruling quashing its license. The Court of Appeal ruled that a member of the Authority was biased in his decision to allow the casino to go ahead.

MORGAN FAHEY: The Government is considering stripping Christchurch Doctor Morgan Fahey of his OBE. Fahey pleaded guilty this week to charges of indecency against his patients spanning over thirty years.

PHANTOM BIDDING: A television programme “Location, location, location” has called into question the real estate auction practice of phantom bidding. Real Estate Agents say the practice is not illegal.

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