The mutiny related trial of Fiji's lands minister, Ratu Naiqama Lalabalavu, has been adjourned till next year.
Radio Fiji reports that the defence was supposed to present its case in the Labasa magistrate's court yesterday, but lawyer Harry Robinson applied for an adjournment.
This was to await the outcome of a constitutional redress case filed by Ratu Naiqama in Suva claiming that the charge against him had been brought outside the statutory time limit.
The magistrate, Sunil Kumar, refused to adjourn the case which has been going on for two years.
The defence team then returned with a medical certificate for one of the two Vanua Levu chiefs who is a co-accused in the trial, saying was sick.
Magistrate Kumar summoned the doctor to court who explained that the chief needed rest because of hypertension.
Radio Fiji says despite expressing frustration at the delays in the trial, Mr Kumar adjourned the case until January the 25th.
Ratu Naiqama, government senator Ratu Josefa Dimuri, and two other chiefs are charged with illegal assembly at the Labasa army barracks during a prolonged mutiny at the height of the Speight coup.
