3 Jan 2012

Fiji court defers hearing case of four alleged anti-regime plotters

6:06 pm on 3 January 2012

The magistrate's court in Fiji has deferred hearing the case of four former politicians alleged to have plotted the overthrow of the interim government.

FBC News says this follows an application by the New Zealand lawyer Peter Williams QC who is acting for one of the detainees.

He has secured the delay to allow him to apply to be admitted to the Fiji bar.

The four accused of urging political violence are Mere Samisoni, Mataiasi Ragigia, Apete Vereti and Semisi Lasike.

They remain in custody, pending a bail application expected to be heard on Wednesday.

The interim regime, which came to power in a military coup in 2006, has initiated several other cases of alleged sedition, including one against a former military land force commander, Pita Driti, and one against a leading unionist, Daniel Urai.