11 May 2009

Two Fiji journalists released from custody

2:02 pm on 11 May 2009

Two journalists from a Fiji on-line newsite have been released from police custody.

Dionisia Tabureguci and Shelvin Chand, who work for Fijilive, were taken into custody on Saturday under new emergency regulations.

They were detained after publishing stories relating to the release of eight soldiers and a policeman from jail shortly after they were convicted of manslaughter.

Our correspondent, Matelita Ragogo, reports they were released late this morning.

"They have just been told to go home, they have been away for two nights, since Saturday. I managed to see them this morning after their second session in terms of interviews, they had another go at them this morning, and then they were released an hour after that. They said that they were looked after well. The holding cells are very basic, it's not a nice place to be especially in this cold weather, but they said that they have been fed well and generally treated well by police."

Matelita Ragogo, reporting from Suva.