Fiji Corrections Service Commissioner Jalesi Nakarawa stated that there are no legal barriers preventing George Speight from seeking a pardon. Speight, who orchestrated the 2000 coup, along with former leader of the Counter Revolutionary Warfare Unit (CRW) Shane Stevens, was among seven individuals granted a Presidential Pardon last Thursday.
Speight was convicted of treason in 2001 after pleading guilty, and his death sentence was reduced to life imprisonment in 2002. He has spent 24 years, one month, and 23 days in prison, amounting to 8,820 days, in both Nukulau Island and Naboro Corrections Complex, without any prior convictions.
Nakarawa clarified discussions surrounding the notion of Speight being pardoned twice, stating that no legal provision restricts his application for clemency. He explained that the circumstances of the previous pardon differ, as it was not a direct application by Speight, but rather a legal remedy during a time when the death penalty was still applicable, although the government was moving to abolish it. He emphasized that the perception of Speight being pardoned twice is a misunderstanding and that the Mercy Commission will have the final say.
Nakarawa also mentioned the emotional response of both Speight and Stevens upon receiving news of their pardon, highlighting their desire to move forward and establish businesses based on the lessons learned during their incarceration. He urged the public to recognize the efforts of the corrections service as they work within the confines of the law.