27 Dec 2002

Eight detained Fiji soldiers charged with fresh offences

10:18 am on 27 December 2002

Eight Fiji soldiers who have been in custody for more than two years have been re-arrested by the military immediately after gaining bail.

The eight belonged to the now disbanded Counter Revolutionary Warfare Unit whose troops staged the May 2000 coup and the army mutiny six months later.

Justice Filimoni Jitoko granted the men bail under the new law which allows people held on remand for more than two years to be released to stand trial from home.

But the military immediately re-arrested the men and laid fresh charges against them.

Neither the details of the new charges nor where the men are now held have been revealed.