George Speight, the leader of the 2000 coup, and former military officer Shane Stevens have received presidential pardons and are now free. This announcement was made by Dr. Jalesi Nakarawa, the Commissioner of Fiji Corrections Service.
During a recent meeting, the Mercy Commission reviewed the forgiveness petitions submitted by Speight, Stevens, and five others. Following their deliberations, the Commission made recommendations for mercy, which were approved by the President of Fiji under Section 119(5) of the Constitution. The pardons were formally granted on September 18, 2024.
As a result, Speight, Stevens, and the other five individuals—Sekina Vosavakatini, Nioni Tagici, Adi Livini Radininausori, and John Miller—have been officially released from custody today. Unfortunately, James Sanjesh Goundar, one of the petitioners, passed away on September 6 at the Minimum Corrections Center, meaning his pardon arrived too late.