Fiji chief jailed for seven years

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A Fiji high chief has been sent to jail for seven years for his role in a murky plot to assassinate Fiji military strongman Voreqe Bainimarama with bombs, runaway cars or food poisoning.

Eight men have been convicted in the Fiji High Court for their roles in the plot which, Judge Paul Madigan, said also involved New Zealand businessman Ballu Khan.

He was discharged and now lives in Auckland.

Paramount chief Inoke Takiveikata was sentenced to seven years jail.

Also sent to jail for seven years were businessmen Sivaniolo Naulago and former special forces soldier Barbados Mills.

Both Naulago and Mills worked for Khan.

The former head of the Fiji Intelligence Service, Metuisela Mua, was sentenced to four years jail.

The others, all former special forces soldiers, got three to four years jail.

Justice Madigan, who was appointed by military decree, heard evidence from Fiji Military Intelligence that Mr Khan was going to use arms and explosives from New Zealand.

It was alleged the New Zealand high commission knew of the plot and supported it.

The plotting was said to have taken place in Mr Khan's Suva home - something he denied.

"We never planned anything, they [the military] came up with the plan and it was like they themselves were planning something. We were the collateral in case something went wrong."

Major Isireli Narawa told the court he and another soldier recommended to the plotters that Commodore Bainimarama be assassinated by a fatal collision with his motorcade or by a sniper attack, so as to draw more information from the alleged plotters. They also recommended food poisoning. The plot was said to have been developed in 2007, eight months after Commodore Bainimarama's coup.

- © Fairfax NZ News