4 Dec 2002

Fiji deputy speaker faces professional misconduct charge

7:48 am on 4 December 2002

The deputy speaker of Fiji's House of Representatives, Ratu Rakuita Vakalalabure, is facing a charge of professional misconduct for his role in the May 2000 coup.

The charge has been brought by the Fiji Law Society and relates to Ratu Rakuita being sworn in as the attorney general in George Speight's failed administrations contrary to the Fiji constitution and acting as his legal adviser during the height of the coup crisis.

The secretary of the Law Society, Alofa Seuvatu, says if the charge is upheld, Ratu Rakuita could be disbarred from practising law.

Ratu Rakuita is a government MP from the pro-coup Conservative Alliance Matanitu Vanua Party.

In a release, the Law Society says it is determined to eradicate and stamp out unprofessional conduct.