4 Mar 2011

Fiji's Takiveikata receives life sentence over 2000 mutiny

2:26 pm on 4 March 2011

The high court in Fiji has given a life sentence to Ratu Inoke Takiveikata, two days after he was found guilty of inciting mutiny in 2000.

The rebellion was aimed at assassinating the military commander, Commodore Frank Bainimarama.

According to Fijivillage, Justice Daniel Gounder has stressed that Ratu Inoke is not eligible for parole for a period of eight years.

He was to be sentenced on Thursday but there was a delay to allow for mitigation.

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

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