Fiji Corrections Service Commissioner Jalesi Nakarawa stated that there is no legal obstacle preventing George Speight from seeking mercy. Speight, the orchestrator of the 2000 coup, and former Counter Revolutionary Warfare Unit leader Shane Stevens were among seven individuals granted a Presidential Pardon last Thursday.
Speight was arrested for treason and entered a guilty plea in 2001. His death sentence was reduced to life imprisonment in 2002. Over the past 24 years, one month, and 23 days, equating to 8,820 days, he has served time both on Nukulau Island and in the Naboro Corrections Complex, with no prior convictions.
Nakarawa explained that there is ongoing discussion about the perception that Speight has received two pardons. However, he clarified that according to the law, he is eligible to apply for mercy. “The circumstances of the first pardon were different; it was not a direct application from Speight, but rather a legal response at that time,” Nakarawa remarked.
He noted that no one had been sentenced to death since the 1960s, although the death penalty was still legally recognized. At that time, the government was in the process of abolishing it, with Cabinet approval pending parliamentary discussion, leading to the court’s ruling addressing a legal gap. This has resulted in misconceptions about the nature of Speight’s pardons.
Ultimately, he stated, the final authority rests with the Mercy Commission. Nakarawa also revealed that Speight and Stevens were emotional when informed of their pardons last Thursday, expressing a strong desire to rebuild their lives and pursue business opportunities based on the lessons learned during their incarceration.
“They were emotional and happy. It’s been quite a long time,” he added. Nakarawa concluded by asking the public to recognize the efforts of the Corrections Service, emphasizing their commitment to processing cases in accordance with the law.