17 Sep 2010

Mistrial in Fiji's Takiveikata mutiny case

3:18 pm on 17 September 2010

The Fiji high court has declared a mistrial in the mutiny case brought against the Naitasiri High Chief Ratu Inoke Takiveikata.

In the retrial, Takiveikata was charged with inciting the 2000 mutiny which aimed to kill the military commander, Commodore Frank Bainimarama.

According to Fiji Village, the defence lawyer has made a submission that one of the three assessors was a former soldier.

As a result, the judge declared a mistrial and ordered a fresh trial to start on Monday.

Takiveikata had been given a life sentence for the mutiny but in early 2007 the appeal court quashed the ruling and he was released from prison after serving 31 months.

Last March, Takiveikata was jailed again when he was given a seven year prison sentence for plotting to kill Commodore Bainimarama in late 2007.