24 Jul 2009

Two more Fiji Methodist church leaders expected in court this afternoon

1:00 pm on 24 July 2009

Two former Fiji Methodist Church presidents, the Reverend Manasa Lasaro and the Reverend Tomasi Kanailagi, are expected to appear in court today following police questioning over the annual church conference.

The website Fiji Village reports the Police Commissioner Esala Teleni as saying charges against the two senior pastors have been formalised and they'll be taken to court this afternoon.

The military had earlier insisted that the Methodist Church drop the two former presidents from its leadership that had been planning the annual church conference.

Yesterday, the church's president and general secretary, along with the country's highest ranking female chief, were charged with defying Public Emergency Regulations and released on bail but are prohibited from making public statements.