2 Nov 2016

Fiji sedition case in court

1:47 pm on 2 November 2016

The trial is underway in Fiji of two men accused of writing seditious comments in public places in 2011

Mosese Bulitavu and Jagath Karunaratne, who is a New Zealander, are alleged to have painted words in different places between Nausori and Suva with the intention of causing hatred for the government.

The alleged graffiti writing occurred when Fiji was ruled by a military-backed regime which had taken power by force 2006.

According to Fijivillage, a witness who has been given immunity from seditious charges has told the Suva Magistrates Court that the two men told them to write against Frank Bainimarama and Aiyaz Sayed-Khaiyum.

Usaia Koroi is the state's first of 27 witnesses.

Originally, five people were charged over the incident.