Former Land Force Commander, Pita Driti said in his police caution interview that he was not disappointed with the government in 2010 but he was only disappointed with Attorney General, Aiyaz Sayed-Khaiyum.

This has been read out in Driti's trial by Sergeant Mereoni Tabaki who was part of the police team that interviewed Driti from the 19th of February, 2011.

Driti said in the police interview that he was told that he was sent on leave at the time because there was an allegation against him, Ratu Tevita Uluilakeba Mara and Brigadier General Mohammed Aziz that they were planning to remove the government.
 
Driti said he knew that Aziz was still at work while he and Mara were sent on leave.

Driti said in the police interview that there were some options discussed by him, Ratu Tevita Mara and Aziz that the economy was getting affected and something needed to be done.

He said that the allegation against them started when Mara visited his house to talk about the options.
 
However Driti said that the three later decided not to go ahead with anything.

He said Aziz had also told them that a lot of legal considerations were needed. Driti says legal matters were discussed with Aziz as he is a lawyer.

Driti categorically denied that he had any knowledge of the printing of a Decree 37 of 2010 to remove the Prime Minister and his cabinet.
 
This decree was found in a FICAC raid at Driti's nephew, Ben Padarath's home.

Driti said that whatever they were discussing were just options, not a coup plot.

He also denied in the police interview that there were plans to eliminate the Attorney General, Aiyaz Sayed-Khaiyum by Christmas 2010.

Driti said that there was no plan to remove the government when the Prime Minister goes to Sudan in late 2010, no plan to cancel Commodore Bainimarama's passport and exile him to another country, no plan to send the Bainimarama family to another country and no plan to appoint the SDL as the interim administration with members of the Great Council of Chiefs and the Methodist Church.

However Driti confirmed that he had told Lt Colonel Manasa Tagicakabau to monitor Aiyaz Sayed-Khaiyum due to his alleged outside dealings.
 
He said the removal of the Attorney General was one of the options due to the portfolios he was holding which included Industry, Trade, Commerce and at the same time he was the Minister responsible for Anti Corruption.
 
Driti said they decided that this was not right and they had to set up an independent team rather than FICAC to investigate the Attorney General's outside deals.

He said they were planning to prepare a brief for the Prime Minister about the ailing economy in 2010 and give him options. 

When questioned by the police on whether Driti knew Kaminieli Vosavere and other members of the former CRW unit, Driti said he had no contact with them.
 
Driti also said that there was no question about the RFMF's allegiance to the Commander and he said due to that only another military force could be used to carry out any plans.
 
He also said that only a few weapons were not returned after the 2000 coup.

Driti says the only influence came from Ratu Tevita Mara and Aziz. He claimed to the police that the instigator was Brigadier General Aziz and Ratu Tevita Mara was the messenger.

Driti said that it was a set up by Aziz when Aziz later went to Commodore Bainimarama and informed him about the plans.
 
Driti said he then sent a text message to Aziz saying "you set me up and you are going to pay for it".
 
However he said that Aziz did not reply.

Former RFMF Land Force Commander, Pita Driti is charged with uttering seditious comments and inciting to mutiny.

The trial continues today.



Story by: Vijay Narayan