George Speight, the leader of the 2000 coup, has received a Presidential Pardon from the Mercy Commission. During a meeting held yesterday, the Commission evaluated petitions for mercy submitted by Speight and six other incarcerated individuals, including Shane Stevens, the leader of Counter Revolutionary Warfare (CRW).
Speight was serving a life sentence for treason, while Stevens was also serving life for mutiny. The other individuals considered for mercy are Sekina Vosavakatini, Nioni Tagici, James Sanjesh Goundar, Adi Livini Radininausori, and John Miller.
Following thorough discussions, the Commission made recommendations for clemency, which were duly accepted by the President of Fiji, who acted under Section 119(5) of the Constitution to grant pardons. These pardons were officially granted yesterday, leading to the immediate release of the individuals from custody today.
Regrettably, for James Sanjesh Goundar, who died on September 6 at the Minimum Corrections Center, the pardon came too late.