Fiji Corrections Service (FCS) Commissioner Jalesi Nakarawa stated that there are no legal barriers preventing George Speight from applying for a presidential pardon. Speight, who led the 2000 coup, was among seven individuals who received a Presidential Pardon last Thursday, along with former Counter Revolutionary Warfare Unit leader Shane Stevens.
In 2001, Speight pleaded guilty to treason and was sentenced to death, a penalty that was commuted to life imprisonment in 2002. He has served 24 years and over 8,800 days in prison, having no prior convictions.
Nakarawa addressed the perception that Speight has been pardoned twice, clarifying that the initial pardon was not a direct application from him, but a response to a broader legal context at the time. He noted that while the government was moving to abolish the death penalty, the law still permitted it, which led to a court ruling influenced by a legal loophole.
He emphasized that the final decision regarding mercy rests with the Mercy Commission. Nakarawa reported that both Speight and Stevens were emotional upon receiving news of their pardon, expressing hope to start businesses and rebuild their lives after years of incarceration.
He called on the public to understand that the FCS is committed to fulfilling its duties to the best of its ability and that all actions are taken in accordance with the law.