George Speight, the leader of the 2000 coup, and former military officer Shane Stevens have received presidential pardons and are now free. This information was confirmed to Fiji One news by Dr. Jalesi Nakarawa, the Commissioner of the Fiji Corrections Service.
The Mercy Commission met yesterday to evaluate the mercy petitions submitted by Speight, Stevens, and five other individuals. After considering these petitions, the Commission made recommendations that led to His Excellency, the President of Fiji, granting pardons to all petitioners under Section 119(5) of the Constitution. The formal pardons were issued on September 18, 2024.
Consequently, Speight, Stevens, and the five others have been officially released from custody as of today. The additional individuals granted pardons are Sekina Vosavakatini, Nioni Tagici, Adi Livini Radininausori, John Miller, and James Sanjesh Goundar. However, it is noted that Goundar passed away on September 6 at the Minimum Corrections Center, making the pardon in his case come too late.