New witness takes stand
While giving evidence, an officer in the Military Intelligence Unit Saula Lasagavibau told the court that he was briefed by his fellow officer Lance Corporal Peniasi Kuli, in September 2007, that they were following an alleged plan by Ballu Khan's group to kill the Commander and others, and that they were to meet Khan's group in Nadi to get details of the plans and try to recover some of the weapons.
Lasagavibau said he accompanied Peniasi Kuli and two other officers to Nadi on the morning of September 22nd 2007.
Upon reaching Nadi, Lasagavibau said they went straight to the Sabeto junction, and from there they walked about 300 meters to a farm house which they believed belonged to one of the accused, Sivaniolo Naulago.
According to Lasagavibau about 20 meters away from the farm house a green twin cab pulled up beside them, and he identified three of the accused persons Naulago, Barbados Mills and Feoko Gadekibau, were allegedly sitting in the vehicle.
Following that, Lasagavibau said they were taken to a corrugated iron and timber house on the farm, where he and his fellow officers were searched for any listening devices or cameras.
Lasagavibau then went on to say that after a brief lunch, one of the accused, Sivaniolo Naulago allegedly started to brief them on the alleged assassination plot, after he took out a white board and his laptop.
According to him the briefing that they received from Naulago was that the alleged plan to assassinate the Army Commander and others was based on the utilization of the army to kill the Commander, and to make Fiji a police state.
Lasagavibau then said that according to the alleged plan, there should be no more members of the RFMF, once the assassination plot is carried out, and that if there was a need for military back up, they would get the Australia and New Zealand army to assist them in the plan.
Lasagavibau mentioned that there were detailed plans from Naulago on how to secure the military installations especially the armory at the RFMF headquarters in Nabua.
He said the plans, also involved the granting of amnesty to those who would take part in the group.
Lasagavibau said following the briefing that he received from one of the accused, they left the Sabeto Farm, and went on to Prince Charles Park in Nadi to watch the Sanyo Cup final between Naitasiri and Nadi after which they returned to Suva.
The eight accused persons charged with conspiracy to murder are Naitasiri high chief, Ratu Inoke Takiveikata, Feoko Gadekibau, Barbados Mills, Siva-niolo Naulago, Metuisela Mua, Eparama Waqatairewa, Kaminieli Vosavere and Pauliasi Ramulo.
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