Accused person in the assassination plot trial, Barbados Mills gave sworn evidence in court this morning and alleged that Lance Corporal Peniasi Kuli and his group had approached him to kill the Army Commander, Commodore Voreqe Bainimarama and wanted to trap him in their plot.

Barbados Mills while being questioned by Defence Lawyer Iqbal Khan told the court that Peniasi Kuli called him and pestered him to join his group but he only put up with Kuli because, after the events of December 2006, they were allegedly threatened by the Fiji Military Forces that if something was to happen, the former CRW soldiers would face the full brunt of the army, whether they were involved in plan or not.

He said he only agreed to meet Kuli to ensure his safety, the safety of his co-accused and his employer Ballu Khan.

Mills told the court that after what happened to him in November 2000, he had learnt his lesson after spending five years in prison and stated that he had promised himself that he would never get involved in such activities and that he would never sacrifice his family and child by getting involved.

He alleged that his worst fears became real when Kuli turned the story around and accused them of plotting to kill the Commander.

Mills was also asked to recall the events of November 2nd 2000 when the attempted mutiny took place at the Queen Elizabeth Barracks.

He claimed that he only followed orders on that day stressing that a soldier never questions his superiors and that the RFMF does not teach its men about unlawful orders.

Mills said there are no bad soldiers only bad leaders which he realised when he pleaded guilty to mutiny charges in 2000.

Mills also stated, when questioned, that any attempt to take over the 3FIR would be a blood bath.

He said that 20 to 30 CRW men who were well trained, tried in 2000 and failed as the 3FIR which is made up of about 800 to 1,000 men is the most dangerous place in the RFMF.

 
Speaking of the November 2nd 2000, he also maintained that no order was ever given to the CRW men at the time to kill the Army Commander, who at one stage during the mutiny, was within shooting range from him.

DPP Lawyer David Toganivalu questioned Mills on why he never reported Kuli and his group to the police. Mills responded by saying that in late 2006 Ballu Khan had written to the Police Commissioner to complain about them being harassed by the military, and to date there was no reply and he knew that it was no use going to the police about the RFMF, who were in charge.

Mills then begged the court to believe what he is saying, reiterating that the brutal assault on him in 2000 and the hardships he faced when he lost everything including his property while in prison, he could never get involved in such activities.

Another accused Sivaniolo Naulago is expected to give his evidence in the witness box this hour.