Court orders police to return Charters' electronic devices

Police have been ordered to release the electronic devices seized from British-Fijian writer Charlie Charters when the matter returns to the Suva Magistrates Court on Friday.

Resident Magistrate Shageeth Somaratne made the order yesterday after police sought more time to determine whether the devices should be returned.

Police told the court the devices could be required in a separate investigation involving other suspects and said approval from senior officers was needed before a decision could be made.

However, Charters' lawyer, Seforan Fatiaki, opposed the delay, arguing police no longer had the legal authority to retain the devices.

Mr Fatiaki submitted that the High Court's decision to permanently stay the prosecution against Charters also brought an end to all warrants issued in the case, including those authorising the seizure of the devices.

He also argued investigators had already extracted all the information they required from the devices.

Last month, the High Court permanently stayed the prosecution against Charters after finding that the Fiji Independent Commission Against Corruption (FICAC) had abused the court process.

The matter returns to the Suva Magistrates Court tomorrow for police to comply with the order.