11 Oct 2007

Qarase case adjourned to unspecified date

9:26 pm on 11 October 2007

The hearing of the legal challenge brought by the deposed Fiji prime minister Laisenia Qarase against the overthrow of his government has been adjourned to an unspecified date.

Radio Legend reports that when the case resumed this afternoon, the three presiding judges, acting chief justice Anthony Gates, Justice John Byrne and Justice Devendra Pathik felt that there was a danger of unfairness creeping in and the case should be more carefully managed.

In a statement all three judges said they will now discuss a fresh timetable for the proceedings with the lawyers.

Earlier today Mr Parram sought to question the validity of certain decisions made by President Iloilo and the necessity for an interim government

He claimed the military council was running the country and not the president.

But Commodore Bainimarama's lawyer, Gerard McCoy, said the good faith of the president was being questioned when Mr Parram produced no evidence for the extreme allegations being made.

The judges said the right time to raise the fresh arguments was September 11th when the case started and not at this late stage.

The court was adjourned to allow discussions on a fresh timetable.