Fiji Corrections Service Commissioner Jalesi Nakarawa stated that George Speight cannot be legally barred from applying for mercy. Speight, the key figure in the 2000 coup, along with former Counter Revolutionary Warfare Unit leader Shane Stevens, was among seven individuals granted a Presidential Pardon last Thursday.
In 2001, Speight was charged with treason and convicted after pleading guilty. His initial death sentence was changed to life imprisonment in 2002. He has served 24 years, one month, and 23 days in prison, with no prior convictions.
“There are discussions about Speight being pardoned twice, but according to the law, he is entitled to apply for mercy,” Nakarawa explained. He detailed that the first pardon was a result of a legal situation rather than an application from Speight. The death penalty had not been enforced since the 1960s, and although the government was moving to abolish it, the ruling was made due to a legal loophole at the time.
“The Cabinet approved the abolition, but it had yet to be presented to Parliament, leading to that court ruling. Therefore, claims that he has been pardoned twice are not accurate. The final determination will come from the Mercy Commission,” he added.
Nakarawa noted that both Speight and Stevens were emotional upon learning about their pardon. They expressed a strong desire to rebuild their lives and discussed plans for starting businesses, reflecting on what they had learned during their incarceration.
“They were joyful and emotional, particularly given the lengthy time they have spent in prison,” he stated. Nakarawa urged the public to recognize the efforts of the corrections service to fulfill their duties lawfully, despite differing opinions.