Fiji Corrections Service Commissioner Jalesi Nakarawa stated yesterday that there are no legal barriers preventing George Speight from seeking a pardon. Speight, who led the 2000 coup, along with former Counter Revolutionary Warfare Unit leader Shane Stevens, was granted a Presidential Pardon last Thursday, among seven individuals.
Speight was charged with treason and pleaded guilty in 2001, receiving a death sentence that was later commuted to life imprisonment in 2002. He has been incarcerated for 24 years, one month, and 23 days, totaling 8,820 days, during which time he has been held on Nukulau Island and at the Naboro Corrections Complex, without any prior convictions.
“There are discussions about Speight being pardoned twice, but under the law, there is nothing to prevent him from applying for mercy,” Nakarawa explained. He clarified that the first pardon was not a direct application from Speight but resulted from a unique legal situation. He noted that since the 1960s, no one had been sentenced to death, yet the death penalty remained in law as the government was working toward its abolition.
“The Cabinet approved the abolition, but it hadn’t yet gone before Parliament, leading to a ruling based on a legal loophole. The idea that he has received two pardons is a misunderstanding,” Nakarawa added. He emphasized that the final decision rests with the Mercy Commission.
Following the announcement of their pardons, both Speight and Stevens were reported to be emotional and expressed a desire to start new lives and businesses, having gained valuable insights during their time in prison. “They were filled with emotion and happiness after such a long time,” Nakarawa said.
He concluded by urging the public to understand that the Corrections Service is committed to performing its duties to the best of its abilities, even as opinions may vary—emphasizing the importance of adhering to the law in processing these matters.