State witness admits he received money
While being questioned by lawyer Akuila Naco, Natuinivalu highlighted how after the meeting at FTA, his group walked down into Suva City and bought BBQ with money allegedly given to Lance Coporal Peniasi Kuli by accused Sivaniolo Naulago.
Natuinivalu told the court that he was than given $30 from the money given to Kuli.
Naco questioned the witness why he did not mention receiving the money in his police statement.
Natuinivalu replied that he was not asked about the money and only remembered that he was given the money when questioned on buying the BBQ that night.
Naco also put to Natuinivalu that he was never at the meeting at FTA.
However the witness said he was at the meeting.
Natuinivalu was first cross examined by Mehboob Raza this morning.
He revealed during questioning that he was first introduced to accused persons, Sivaniolo Naulaga and Barbadoes Mills at the meeting at FTA in September 2007.
Natuinivalu said Lance Corporal Kuli informed those at the meeting that he was from Vatukoula and would provide the explosives required to carry out the alleged assassination plot.
Raza also established that models were constructed of the RFMF's 3FIR Building, the Armory and Stand-By Unit where Natuinivalu and others used sticks as fake guns to carry out timed exercises in storming the buildings.
This exercise is alleged to have taken place at accused person, the Qaranivalu Ratu Inoke Takiveikata's land in Wailase.
Raza asked Natuinivalu on whether he had said in his police statement that Naulago mentioned "the boss" Ballu KHan was getting reluctant to go ahead with the alleged plan.
Natuinivalu answered that Naulago had said while they were in Wailase that things were not going well.
He also highlighted inconsistencies in Natuinivalu's police statement and his evidence in court regarding the time for the training exercise.
Mehboob Raza than put to the witness that there were no meetings held at the Naitasiri Provincial council building in Nausori as claimed and that Kuli kept pestering and harassing Barbadoes Mills who resided at the premises.
The witness's evidence in court regarding the time of the meeting at FTA also did not concur with evidence given by other Intelligence Unit personnel in the trial.
Raza put to the witness that the only briefing they received from Naulago at the FTA meeting was improving the economic well-being of the Indigenous people but the witness maintained that plans to remove the current government were also discussed.
Raza also highlighted that Natuinivalu had said in his police statement that the plan was for the takeover of all Military installations and not just at Nabua including the army barracks in Labasa, Nadi, Lautoka and Nasinu.
However, the witness maintained that their task was only to take over the 3FIR.
The cross examination continues.
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