George Speight, the leader of the 2000 coup, and former military officer Shane Stevens have received presidential pardons, leading to their release from prison. This information was confirmed by Dr. Jalesi Nakarawa, the Commissioner of Fiji Corrections Service.
The Mercy Commission convened recently to review mercy petitions submitted by Speight, Stevens, and five other individuals. Following their discussions, the Commission recommended that pardons be granted, which the President of Fiji approved under Section 119(5) of the Constitution. The formal pardons were issued on September 18, 2024.
Consequently, Speight, Stevens, and the five additional individuals have been discharged from custody. The others receiving pardons include Sekina Vosavakatini, Nioni Tagici, Adi Livini Radininausori, and John Miller. Unfortunately, one of the petitioners, James Sanjesh Goundar, who died on September 6 while incarcerated, was unable to benefit from the granted pardon.