4 More Terrorists Bailed

Issue No: 264 6 December 2000

Four more terrorists have been released on bail by Chief Magistrate Salesi Temo today. Bail has been set at $50 each.

The four - former Fiji Intelligence Services Director, Metaisela Mua, lawyer Tevita Bukarau, villager Eroni Lewagai, and Viliame Sausauwai were released when the court sat at Nukulau Island this morning. The defence submitted that there was not enough evidence for the charge of treason to hold for the four. The Radio Fiji today reported that the Office of the Director of Public Prosecution withdrew the charges. The 4 are required to report to a nearby police station 3 times a week.

The military says it is unaware of the release of the 4. Military lawyer Col. Etuweni Caucau told the radio that if they found evidence the 4 will be recharged.

The trend in gradually freeing all the terrorists is getting stronger. Many terrorists have so far been freed with either suspended sentences of punishments like small fines or community services. Eight members of the CRW unit were also released by the courts, and later by the military. The 8 were part of the bloody attempted coup of 2 November.

End 6 Dec 2000

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