Fiji coup leader Speight to appear in court

Fiji coup leader Speight to appear in court
REUTERS

SUVA, JAN 12: Fiji coup leader George Speight will appear in court this month for a hearing to decide whether he faces treason charges, the Chief prosecutor said on Friday.

"Court hearings will go ahead on January 24, where thenames of the prosecution's witnesses will be released to the Defence," acting director of public prosecutions Josia Naigulevu said. Treason carries a maximum penalty of hanging in Fiji.

Speight led an assault on parliament on May 19 last year,taking the country's first ethnic Indian Prime minister, Mahendra Chaudhry, and most of his cabinet hostage for eight weeks in the name of indigenous rights.

The military declared martial law and then appointed anindigenous government led by Laisenia Qarase, an administration which the High Court since has declared illegal.

Prosecutors are seeking to have an immunity deal struckbetween the military and Speight at the height of the crisis declared invalid.