Govt rejects Fiji coup link to NZ

The Government has rejected claims New Zealand diplomats and soldiers were linked to a plot to assassinate Fiji coup leader Frank Bainimarama.

Eight men were convicted this week of conspiring to murder Bainimarama, who overthrew a democratic government in 2006.

It is understood they will be sentenced today.

Low-ranking soldiers in Fiji Military Intelligence claimed New Zealand was involved in the plot. The allegations were repeated by High Court judge Paul Madigan in his summing up.

"We utterly reject the suggestions New Zealand was involved," a spokesman for Foreign Minister Murray McCully said yesterday.

He said this country's involvement was limited to providing standard consular assistance to Fiji-born New Zealand businessman Ballu Khan, who was arrested with the eight. Khan later won a permanent stay of prosecution and now lives in Auckland.

In a leaked copy of Justice Madigan's directions to the five-person bench of assessors, he refers to a meeting said to have involved witness Corporal Peniasi Kuli, of military intelligence, and some of the eight accused.

"[One of the accused] used the laptop to outline the plan, that is to neutralise the army and turn the country into a police state," Justice Madigan said.

"[He] continued by saying that if there was any trouble they would call in the Australian or New Zealand army."

Another intelligence witness, Major Isireli Narawa, "said arms would be purchased from New Zealand," Justice Madigan said.

"He had support from New Zealand, Australia, the US and the United Kingdom through their embassies in Suva, and that Australia was going to put up $1 billion to kick-start the economy."

- © Fairfax NZ News