18 Aug 2004

Fiji court defers Seniloli bail application hearing

3:54 pm on 18 August 2004

The Fiji Court of Appeal is expected to hear a bail application for the convicted vice president Ratu Jope Seniloli tomorrow morning.

A court registrar says the appeal was called today by Justice Gordon Ward but preliminary issues led to it being delayed until tomorrow.

The bail application also covers the deputy speaker of parliament Vakalalabure who is in prison for six years, two others who are in for three years and one for two years.

Meanwhile, police have begun a manhunt for people who last night broke into the High Court office of Justice Nazhat Shameem, the judge who sentenced Seniloli and the others.

The police spokesman, Mesake Koroi, says the intruders cut off the phone lines but other details are not clear because police are still investigating.

The men gained entry by forcing open the door to the office.

Justice Shameem has been under police protection 24-hours a day since the case began in late June and security was intensified after the Seniloli sentencing.