A Fiji government senator and provincial paramount chief has pleaded NOT guilty to four charges of inciting mutiny and one charge of aiding soldiers in an act of mutiny.
Radio Fiji reports that the prosecution withdrew one charge of conspiracy to incite mutiny against Ratu Inoke Takiveikata when he appeared in the Suva High Court today.
The director of public prosecutions alleges that Takiveikata incited three soldiers between August the 6th and October the 17th 2000 to commit mutiny.
The three include the leader of the now disbanded Counter Revolutionary Warfare Unit, Captain Shane Stevens, who is already serving a sentence after being found guilty in a court martial.
Five assessors, three men and two women, were also sworn in with Justice Anthony Gates telling them to ignore everything they have seen and heard outside the court and take into account only the evidence that is given.
The prosecution also read out a list of 41 state witnesses who include Captain Stevens and other soldiers whom the accused is alleged to have incited.
Two of the witnesses have been granted immunity from prosecution for agreeing to give evidence
