Suva, Fiji: People must respect the court’s jailing of eight people who conspired to kill him, Fiji’s leader Commodore Frank Bainimarama says.

“The independent judicial process has taken place and we all must respect the outcome,” he said yesterday.
Those convicted and jailed are Naitasiri paramount chief Ratu Inoke Takiveikata, former Fiji Intelligence Service head Colonel Metuisela Mua, five former Counter Revolutionary Warfare Unit soldiers in Feoko Gadekibau, Barbados Mills, Eparama Waqatairewa, Kaminieli Vosavere and Pauliasi Ramulo and Sivaniolo Naulago, the general manager of Pacific Connex, a business owned by Fiji-born New Zealand millionaire Ballu Khan.

Each of the accused was jailed for terms ranging from three to seven years.

Commodore Bainimarama said people must respect the judgment and sentence imposed by High Court judge Justice Paul Madigan, who said, “the plans of the accused were totally self-serving, thoughtless and greedy”.

Defence lawyers representing the eight men said they were shocked at the decision and sentences.

Akuila Naco, Mehboob Raza and Iqbal Khan said there would “definitely” be appeals by their respective clients.

Mr Naco said the law had spoken and they respected that. The lawyers are expected to file appeals this week.