By MONIKA SINGH
FIJI’S 2000 coup leader, George Speight, has been released from prison after being granted a presidential pardon based on a recommendation by the Mercy Commission of Fiji yesterday.
According to a government statement issued yesterday, the commission recommended that President Ratu Viliame Katonivere grant Speight mercy, postponing his punishment indefinitely in recognition of his rehabilitation and the length of his imprisonment.
The commission noted that Speight was charged with treason and convicted on his own plea of guilty in 2001. His death sentence was commuted to life imprisonment in 2002. Speight had served 24 years, 1 month, and 23 days—totaling 8,820 days—both on Nukulau Island and at the Naboro Correctional Facility. He had no prior convictions.
Positive reports on Speight’s behavior were provided to the commission by the Fiji Corrections Service (FCS), which recommended his pardon. The commission also reviewed psychological and judicial assessments, with the FCS supporting Speight’s reintegration into society.
The government statement mentioned that the Mercy Commission reviewed 10 petitions on 11 September 2024, and after careful deliberation, made recommendations regarding the cases of Mahendralal Patel, Speight, Shane Gurt Nailatikau Stevens, Sekina Vosavakatini, Nioni Tagici, James Sanjesh Goundar, Adi Livini Radininausori and John Miller.
Stevens, convicted of incitement to mutiny in 2002, had served 21 years, 8 months, and 20 days—totaling 7,934 days—at Naboro Prison. Like Speight, Stevens had no previous convictions. Reports and evaluations from the FCS cited his positive progress during imprisonment, leading the commission to recommend postponing his sentence indefinitely.
In a media statement the FCS confirmed that seven people were officially discharged from custody yesterday.
However, the FCS statement said the pardon came too late for Goundar, who passed away on 6 September at the Minimum Corrections Center.
Meanwhile Patel, who was charged with abuse of office in 2006 and convicted in absentia on 20 November 2014, was sentenced to 12 months in prison. An earlier petition for mercy was submitted by Patel on 4 April 2023, but was dismissed.
On 13 June 2024, the commission received a letter from Patel’s lawyers requesting reconsideration. Taking into account his age, the length of his absence from Fiji, and his substantial contributions to the country, the commission recommended a conditional pardon for Patel, contingent on him not reoffending.
The commission confirmed that the President acted on the recommendations of the Mercy Commission under Section 119(5) of the Constitution on 18 September 2024.
Established under Section 119(3) of the Constitution, the Mercy Commission has the authority to recommend that the President of Fiji: (a) grant a free or conditional pardon, (b) postpone the execution of a sentence for a specified or indefinite period, or (c) remit all or part of a sentence for any convicted person.
