George Speight, the businessman who became infamous as the self-proclaimed leader of the 2000 coup in Fiji, has been released from prison. Along with former military officer Shane Stevens, he was granted a Presidential pardon by the Mercy Commission and officially discharged from custody by the Fiji Corrections Service.
Speight was convicted of treason in 2002 for his role in the coup and had been serving a life sentence. His imprisonment lasted for 24 years, 1 month, and 23 days, amounting to a total of 8,820 days spent at both Nukulau Island and the Naboro Correction Facility.
The Mercy Commission issued a statement highlighting that the Fiji Corrections Service provided positive reports on Speight’s behavior and recommended the pardon. Psychological and judicial assessments were also conducted, with the Corrections Service supporting his reintegration into society.
Other individuals released on the same day include Sekina Vosavakatini, Nioni Tagici, Adi Livini Radininausori, James Sanjesh Goundar, and John Miller. According to the Fiji Corrections Service, the Mercy Commission carefully considered the applications for clemency before making its recommendations, leading to the President granting pardons in accordance with the Constitution.
The official pardons were granted on September 18, 2024, resulting in the release of the mentioned individuals. However, James Sanjesh Goundar passed away on September 6 at the Minimum Corrections Center, meaning his pardon was unfortunately granted too late.
The Fiji Corrections Service affirmed the government’s commitment to justice, rehabilitation, and the rule of law, emphasizing the importance of the Mercy Commission in evaluating clemency petitions on a case-by-case basis. In December of the previous year, others sentenced alongside Speight for the same crime were also released following similar pardons.