Convicted coup leader George Ilikini Naitini Speight, former Counter Revolutionary Warfare Commander Shane Stevens, and a Suva businessman have received Presidential pardons that will free them from their sentences.
The Mercy Commission, established under Section 119(3) of the Fijian Constitution, holds the authority to advise the President on granting pardons, postponing punishment, or remitting sentences for those convicted of criminal offenses.
On September 11, 2024, the Mercy Commission reviewed ten petitions for clemency. Following careful consideration, they made recommendations concerning the petitions of Mahendralal Patel, George Speight, Shane Stevens, and seven others.
Mahendralal Patel, also known as Mahendra Motibhai Patel, faced charges of Abuse of Office in 2006 and was convicted in absentia in November 2014, receiving a 12-month prison sentence. After an initial petition submitted on April 4, 2023, was dismissed, his lawyers requested reconsideration on June 13, 2024. The Commission evaluated Patel’s age, time spent away from Fiji, and his significant contributions to the country, ultimately recommending a conditional pardon provided he does not reoffend.
George Speight was charged with treason and entered a guilty plea in 2001, having his death sentence commuted to life imprisonment in 2002. He has served over 24 years in prison. Positive reports from the Fiji Corrections Services (FCS) regarding Speight’s behavior, in addition to psychological and judicial assessments, supported the recommendation for a pardon based on his rehabilitation and lengthy imprisonment. The Commission proposed that the President grant clemency to Speight by postponing the execution of his punishment indefinitely.
Shane Stevens, convicted of Incitement to Mutiny in 2002, has spent over 21 years incarcerated. He also received positive evaluations from the FCS, which recommended him for a pardon reflecting his progress during his detention. The Commission advised that Stevens, too, receive mercy through postponement of his punishment for an indefinite period.
On September 18, 2024, the President acted upon the Mercy Commission’s recommendations in accordance with Section 119(5) of the Constitution. The Commission affirmed that their decisions were made under constitutional authority.