Concerns on George Speight's pardon

Fiji Corrections Service (FCS) Commissioner Jalesi Nakarawa yesterday said there was nothing under the law that prevents George Speight from applying for mercy.

2000 coup frontman Speight and former Counter Revolutionary Warfare Unit (CRW) leader Shane Stevens were two of the seven people granted Presidential Pardon last Thursday.

Mr 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.

He has been imprisoned for 24 years, one month and 23 days, which is 8820 days, both on Nukulau Island and at the Naboro Corrections Complex. He had no previous convictions.

“People are discussing Speight being pardoned twice, but as far as we are concerned, there is nothing under the law that prevents him from applying for mercy,” Mr Nakarawa said.

“The circumstances of the first pardon were different; it was not an application from Speight per se, but rather a legal redress at the time. No one had been sentenced to death since the 1960s, but because the death penalty was still on the books. Government was in the process of abolishing it. The Cabinet had approved the abolition, but it hadn’t gone to Parliament yet, so the court made that ruling in a legal loophole. The perception that he (Speight) has been pardoned twice is incorrect.

Final decision

“The final decision lies with the Mercy Commission.”

Mr Nakarawa said Mr Speight and Mr Stevens were emotional when told about their pardon last Thursday. They both expressed their desire to rebuild their lives. They talked about starting businesses because they have learned a lot during their time in prison,” he said.

“They were emotional and happy. They were emotional because, it has been quite a long time.

“I just want to ask the public to appreciate that we are trying to do our job to the best of our ability. While opinions may differ, we process matters according to the law.”

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