George Speight, the leader of the 2000 coup in Fiji, along with six other individuals, has been officially released from custody today. A statement from the Fiji Corrections Services confirmed that the Mercy Commission reviewed mercy petitions on September 18, 2024, for the following individuals:
– Sekina Vosavakatini
– Nioni Tagici
– James Sanjesh Goundar
– Adi Livini Radininausori
– John Miller
– George Speight
– Shane Stevens
After careful consideration, the Commission made recommendations for mercy, which were approved by the President of Fiji in accordance with Section 119(5) of the Constitution. The pardons were granted on September 18, 2024.
As a result, the individuals mentioned were officially discharged from custody today, September 19, 2024. However, it is noted that James Sanjesh Goundar, who died on September 6 while at the Minimum Corrections Center, did not benefit from the pardon in time.
The Fiji Correction Service, along with the government, emphasizes its commitment to justice, rehabilitation, and adherence to the rule of law, highlighting the importance of the Mercy Commission in evaluating clemency petitions on a case-by-case basis.