Fiji Corrections Service (FCS) Commissioner Jalesi Nakarawa stated that there are no legal barriers preventing George Speight from seeking clemency. Speight, known for his role in the 2000 coup, along with former Counter Revolutionary Warfare Unit (CRW) leader Shane Stevens, was among seven individuals granted a Presidential Pardon last Thursday.
Speight was charged with treason and entered a guilty plea in 2001, leading to his initial death sentence, which was later commuted to life imprisonment in 2002. He has served 24 years, one month, and 23 days in prison, totaling 8,820 days, with time spent at both Nukulau Island and the Naboro Corrections Complex. Notably, he had no prior convictions.
Commissioner Nakarawa addressed the misconception that Speight has been pardoned twice, clarifying that the first pardon did not originate from a formal application from Speight but was rather a consequence of legal proceedings at that time. He explained that although the death penalty was still legislatively active, the government was in the process of abolishing it, and a court ruling utilized a legal loophole. Thus, the assertion that he has been pardoned twice is misleading.
“The final decision is with the Mercy Commission,” Nakarawa added.
He also described the emotional reactions of Speight and Stevens upon learning of their pardon, mentioning that both expressed a strong desire to start anew. They discussed ambitions for business ventures, reflecting on the lessons learned during their lengthy imprisonment.
In closing, Nakarawa urged the public to understand that the FCS is committed to performing its duties effectively and processing matters in accordance with the law, even amid differing opinions.