29 May 2007

Detained Fiji lawyer says he received VIP treatment

7:37 am on 29 May 2007

A Fiji lawyer detained for two days by the military says he was well treated, well fed and did not feel as if he was detained.

The Fiji Times reports when Ratu Savenaca Komaisavai was released at 6.00pm yesterday, he said his cell was not locked and he was free to come and go as he pleased.

Ratu Savenaca said the military did not see him "as a threat and treated him as a friend and VIP."

He said the military police on guard were professional and courteous.

Ratu Savenaca said there had been some misunderstanding about a legal paper prepared by Ba lawyer Dr Sham-shud Dean Sahu Khan but the military was satisfied with his explanation.

Meanwhile, the first lawyer detained in connection with the same issue, Kitione Vuetaki, says the military had every right to detain him because the media report which quoted him on native land was inciteful.

But he says he would not challenge the military's decision or sue the newspaper.