Pacific News: Targets of alleged Fiji assassination plot named

The targets of the alleged assassination conspiracy uncovered in Fiji have been identified.

The interim prime minister Commodore Frank Bainimarama’s name has been known since the story broke on Saturday night.

Radio Legend has named the others targetted as the interim finance minister, Mahendra Chaudhry; the interim attorney general, Aiyaz Sayed-Khaiyum; and senior military officers Lt Col Samuela Saumatua and Lt Col Sitiveni Qiliho.

The radio report says the ten alleged suspects, which included Lt Col Jone Baledrokadroka, were earlier charged with treason by police for conspiracy to remove the president, Ratu Josefa Iloilo.

The others involved in this alleged conspiracy, which took place between August and November 3rd this year, were Baledrokdroka’s brother-in-law and Naitasiri chief, Ratu Inoke Takiveikata, and New Zealand citizen Ballu Khan.

Baledrokadroka was also charged with instigating an invasion for allegedly conspiring to call for foreigners to invade Fiji with armed force.

The charges of treason and instigating an invasion for this alleged conspiracy were dropped by the director of public prosecutions yesterday.

All ten accused, who include the former director of the disbanded Fiji Intelligence Service, Col Metuisela Mua, a Nadi airport worker and several former soldiers of the
muntinous and disband CRW unit will appear in Suva court today.

They will make a plea on charges of inciting munity and five couunts each of conspiracy to murder.

Source: Radio New Zealand International