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The second state witness in the alleged assassination case against Prime Minister Voreqe Bainimarama, Major Isireli Narawa, did not take the stand in this morning’s High Court hearing due to illness.
State lawyer David Toganivalu told presiding Judge, Justice Paul Madigan his client had been admitted to hospital overnight, as the case enters its second week.
Narawa is the Chief Staff Officer Intelligence at the Fiji Military Strategic headquarters.
The States’ first witness, Lance Corporal Peniasi Kuli, had told the court last week he uncovered the plot to assassinate the PM, Attorney General Aiyaz Sayed-Khaiyum and then Finance Minister Mahendra Chaudhry when he met one of the accused, Naitasiri high chief Ratu Inoke Takiveikata during 2007.
The other defendants implicated in the plot are Feoko Gadekibau, Barbados Mills, Sivaniolo Naulago, Metuisela Mua, Eparama Waqatairewa, Kaminieli Vosavere and Pauliasi Ramulo.
Kuli also told the court the group were arranging for a shipment of arms to be brought in from New Zealand, and that they “used sticks as weapons” during practice runs conducted in a farm in Nadi owned by one of the accused.
But there was no evidence provided by him to substantiate the claims.
Justice Madigan told Toganivalu to inquire about Narawa’s condition and report back to him before hearings continue tomorrow.
