5 Oct 2010

Chaudhry's lawyer expresses every confidence in Fiji judiciary

1:54 pm on 5 October 2010

A lawyer acting for the former Fijian prime minister, Mahendra Chaudhry, has expressed confidence Mr Chaudhry will get a fair hearing when he appears in court again tomorrow.

Mr Chaudhry was apprehended for allegedly violating emergency regulations when he met sugar farmers in the Rakiraki area.

He was released on bail yesterday after the magistrate excused himself from the bench because he knew Mr Chaudhry.

Mr Chaudhry's lawyer, Peter Williams QC, represented Fiji-born New Zealand businessman Ballu Khan, who won a stay of proceedings over his alleged involvement in a plot to murder Fiji's interim prime minister.

"I've had some experience myself with the Fiji judiciary. I've appeared for Ballu Khan a year or two ago and at the present moment I have every confidence in the judiciary in Fiji."

Mr Williams expects his client to remain on bail after reappearing in court tomorrow.