Speight, henchmen charged with treason

SUVA, AUG. 11. Fiji's coup leader, Mr. George Speight, and his top henchmen were today formally charged with treason, punishable by death here.

They were not asked to plead before the Chief Magistrate, Mr. Salesi Temo, and were remanded in custody until August 25.

Details of why the charge had been laid were not immediately available, but police had said earlier they were investigating death threats against Fiji's new President, Mr. Josefa Iloilo.

Mr. Speight was brought to Suva Magistrate's Court sporting a bandage on the back of his head. He had claimed to his lawyers that he had been beaten up in custody. After the hearing, the defendants were taken by police back to Nukulau, a deserted island, where they are being detained.

- AFP

Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

Section  : International
Previous : Yoshiro visit: Efforts likely to repair ties
Next     : U.S. condemns Srinagar blast