31 Oct 2007

Convicted Fiji naval head keeps job pending appeal for manslaughter sentence

1:57 pm on 31 October 2007

The commander of the Fiji Naval Forces, Francis Kean, will remain in the post until all pending legal proceedings over his manslaughter conviction are completed.

Fijilive says this process includes Kean's appeal before the Court of Appeal in Suva against his 18-month jail sentence over last December's death of John Whippy.

The military says the Commander, Commodore Frank Bainimarama, has the discretion of hiring and firing people within the force.

Kean, who is Commodore Bainiamarama's brother-in-law, committed the crime at the reception for the wedding of the commander's daughter.