2 Sep 2004

Fiji's vice president's appeal against his prison sentence to be heard in two months

3:20 pm on 2 September 2004

Fiji's jailed vice president Ratu Jope Seniloli's appeal against his four-year prison sentence will be heard in two months.

Radio Legend reports that the Appeal Court president, Justice Gordon Ward, has set the start date for November the 2nd.

The court will simultaneously hear appeals from the jailed deputy speaker of parliament Vakalalabure against his 6-year sentence and three others serving lesser terms.

Defence lawyers for the convicts say they are ready to go to court to prove their clients innocent.

Seniloli was found guilty of taking an illegal oath to commit a capital offence for attempting to become the usurper president while the late Ratu Sir Kamisese Mara still held office.

The others took similar illegal oaths purporting to become ministers in George Speight's failed administration while the elected government was held hostage at gunpoint.