George Speight, the leader of the 2000 coup, has received a Presidential Pardon from the Mercy Commission. During a meeting held yesterday, the Commission reviewed mercy petitions submitted by Speight along with six other inmates, including Shane Stevens, who led the Counter Revolutionary Warfare (CRW) group.
Speight had been serving a life sentence for treason, while Stevens was imprisoned for mutiny. The other individuals granted pardons are Sekina Vosavakatini, Nioni Tagici, James Sanjesh Goundar, Adi Livini Radininausori, and John Miller.
After thorough deliberation, the Commission made recommendations for mercy, which were accepted by the President of Fiji, who acted under Section 119(5) of the Constitution. The pardons were officially granted yesterday, leading to the immediate release of the individuals from custody.
Tragically, James Sanjesh Goundar, who died on September 6 while at the Minimum Corrections Center, will not benefit from the pardon as it came too late for him.