Two of the accused, facing charges of conspiracy to Murder the Army Commander and others yesterday revealed in the Suva High Court that they did not have any idea of the assassination plans.

The two, Eparama Waqatairewa and Metuisela Mua had their Police Caution statements read out in the High Court by the Police Detectives that had interviewed them in 2007 and the Court heard that they only got to know of the charges laid against them when they were being questioned.

Corporal Detective Emosi Solo read out Waqatairewa’s caution statement in court.

According to his statement, Waqatairewa was informed that he was being charged for allegedly conspiring to assassinate the Army Commander Commodore Voreqe Bainimarama and to take out the President of Fiji between August until October of 2007 however, Waqatairewa told Solo that though he used to work for Ballu Khan, he did not know any of the other seven accused.

Waqatairewa also said in his statement that during the period of the alleged meetings held in Nadi, at Ballu Khans home in Muanikau as well as at the home of fellow accused Sivaniolo Naulago, he was back in the village of Vatoa as he was unemployed at the time.

Waqatairewa also revealed in his statement that he did not have any meetings with the accused as he had left the employment of Ballu Khan two months prior to his arrest as the pay was not good.

Meanwhile, the fifth accused, Metuisela Mua also had his caution interview statement read out in Court where it was heard that he had no knowledge of any meetings and stressed that he did not take part in any conspiracy.

According to his statement which was read out by ASP Apisalome Tuiwakaya, who had interviewed him on the 3rd of November 2007, Mua revealed that he did not have any dealings with the other seven accused as he was engaged in his church activities during the time of the alleged meetings.

According to his statement, the former Director of the Fiji Intelligence Services also revealed that he had no idea and did not take part in the meetings from the 20th of September 2007 at the Fijian Teachers Association Hall, the Qaranivalu’s house, at the fourth accused Sivaniolo Naulago’s house in Sabeto Nadi as well as at Ballu Khan’s house.

Mua in his statement also revealed that he was, on the 12th of October 2007, attending the funeral of a church reverend and was not at any meeting with the first accused the Qaranivalu, Ratu Inoke Takiveikata.

The High Court also heard that since Mua’s retirement from the Civil Service, Mua had been involved in a lot of church activities as he was the elder for his Methodist Church Circuit in Makoi.

The trial continues this morning.