The Mercy Commission convened on September 18, 2024, to assess mercy petitions from several individuals, including Sekina Vosavakatini, Nioni Tagici, James Sanjesh Goundar, Adi Livini Radininausori, John Miller, George Speight, and Shane Stevens. After careful deliberations, recommendations for mercy were made, leading to His Excellency, the President of Fiji, granting pardons to all petitioners under Section 119(5) of the Constitution. These pardons were officially granted on September 18, 2024.
As a result, the individuals mentioned were released from custody on September 19, 2024. However, it is noted that James Sanjesh Goundar, who passed away on September 6 at the Minimum Corrections Center, did not benefit from the pardon in time.
The Fiji Correction Service, along with the government, reaffirms its dedication to justice, rehabilitation, and the rule of law, with the Mercy Commission playing a crucial role in the careful review of clemency petitions based on the circumstances of each case.