A Fiji court yesterday found eight men guilty of conspiracy to murder in connection with a plot to assassinate the prime minister.
The eight were convicted of conspiring to kill armed forces chief Commodore Frank Bainimarama, who seized power in bloodless coup in 2006.
The defendants will be sentenced today and face up to 14 years in prison. They include Ratu Inoke Takiveikata, a former senator and indigenous Fijian tribal leader, and former Fiji Intelligence Service director Metuisela Mua.
Six other defendants who face sentencing today include five former soldiers of the now-disbanded elite Counter Revolutionary Warfare unit: Feoko Gadekibau, Barbados Mills, Eparama Waqatairewa, Kaminieli Vosavere and Pauliasi Romulo; and Sivaniolo Naulago, a former manager of information technology firm, Pacific Connext.
Eight others were earlier acquitted of taking part in the plot.
The 16 men were initially charged with conspiracy to assassinate Bainimarama and two Cabinet ministers and two senior military officers. The charges relating to all but Bainimarama were later dropped.
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