7 Jul 2004

Fiji army officers involved in 2000 coup face September court martial

6:37 am on 7 July 2004

Fiji army officers who had a role in the George Speight-fronted coup are likely to face court martial in September.

Fiji TV reports that this includes reserve officers who have already served a sentence after being found guilty of a criminal offence in the civilian courts.

They include the leader of Speight's gunmen, Major Ilisoni Ligairi, the former director of the now abolished Fiji Intelligence Service, Col Metuisela Mua, and the head of the army engineering unit in 2000 who marched his men to parliament, Major Josefa Savua.

The TV report says internal investigations of officers who helped in the coup will soon be completed.

The military spokesman, Captain Neumi Leweni, says the investigation files will go to the commander, Commodore Bainimarama, and from there on "things will happen."