Cogito, ergo sum. I think, therefore I am. (René Descartes, mathematician and philosopher,1599-1650)

Monday 22 February 2010

Assassination Plot Update 22.2.10

  • Mills threatened to kill me:Ramulo
  • Defence questions Fiji and English  translation. Court clarification
  • Police officers told what to ask
Mills threatened to kill me:Ramulo
Friday 19 Februry 2010
 An accused person in the alleged plot to assassinate the Army Commander Commodore Voreqe Bainimarama and others alleged in his police statement that one of the accused, Barbadoes Mills threatened to kill him if he informed anyone of their plans.


Pauliasi Ramulo told police in his caution interview that while discussing work issues at Ballu Khan's house in October 2007, Mills accused him of being the reason why two other co-workers refused to join their group.The interviewing officer, Viliame Cequsau read Ramulo's statement in court where Vosavere states it was at the meeting where Mills warned him that if he turned into an informer, he would be shot.

Ramulo who was also working for Ballu Khan at that time states in his interview that the Qaranivalu Ratu Inoke Takiveikata used to go to Ballu Khan's house to have tea with him.Ramulo also said Lance Corporal Peniasi Kuli also used to go to Khan's house for meetings with Khan and Barbadoes Mills.

Ramulo states that on one occasion the Qaranivalu had told him that he was informed by Peniasi Kuli that some men from the RFMF Intelligence Unit wanted to kill the Commander. According to Ramulo, he knew that Ratu Inoke was trying to trap them and he informed his fellow CRW men to be careful.

Ramulo said he was also told by Ratu Inoke that it was Peniasi Kuli's group of men who wanted to kill the Army Commander.

The accused also states in his caution statement that Ballu Khan, Ratu Inoke Takiveikata, Jone Baledrokadroka, Kaminieli Vosavere, Barbadoes Mills and Feoko Gadekibau used to have regular meetings at Khan's house for grog sessions after work.He also said that at the time, Barbadoes Mills was not working for Khan but he used to show up at Khan's house with Peniasi Kuli.

Another accused Kamenieli Vosavere's statement was also read in court where he states that he could not stop the intentions of his former CRW men and that he did not want to join the group because they did not have enough manpower.

In his caution statement, Vosavere states that Barbadoes Mills had approached him to join their group as something was going to happen. But Vosavere said he was not interested in joining Mills and his group.

Vosavere was working as a security guard for Ballu Khan and stated in his interview that at a meeting at Ballu Khan's place with Barbadoes Mills, Feoko Gadekibau, Pauliasi Ramulo and Eparama Waqatairewa, he was not in favour of the conversation that was taking place as it was about the political situation in the country.

But in his caution statement, Vosavere maintains that he had no knowledge of the alleged plot because he did not want to know about it.

Following that, accused Pauliasi Ramulo's caution statement was read out by interviewing Officer Sergeant Epeli.

Meanwhile, investigating Officer Nazir Ali is taking the stand this afternoon to give his evidence. Link.

A reader said censorship was interferring with coverage, which I'm sure it does but but it's interesting to see what each paper prints and does not print.This defencestory from The Fiji Times.

Defence questions Fiji and English  translation.Court clarification
Saturday, February 20, 2010
A court interpreter was asked to clarify a police statement by accused person, Pauliasi Ramulo after defence lawyer, Iqbal Khan picked out errors in the translation from Fijian to English. The caution interview statement was translated by the police. A point in question was when Ramulo said Barbados Mills threatened to shoot him if he leaked information. Ramulo said Mills presumed he had stopped two people with military background from joining his and Lance Corporal Peniaisi Kuli's group.

Defence lawyer Iqbal Khan crossed examined interviewing officer Sergeant Epeli Penimala.Mr Khan asked Sgt Penimala to re-read the statement taken in Fijian and then re-ead the statement translated in English.

In the Fijian version, Ramulo states Mills told him not to interrupt or else they would shoot him, whereas in the English statement, it directly implicated Mills' name as the shooter.

Ramulo denied any knowledge of an assassination plot to kill army commander Commodore Voreqe Bainimarama. From his statement the court heard, Ramulo was from Ovalau and a former member of the disbanded Counter Revolutionary Warfare Unit. He was employed by businessman Ballu Khan as a bodyguard earning $200 a week.

In his statement, Ramulo said he did not know or attend secret meetings held at Khan's home, at Pacific Connex office, or the Naitasiri Provincial Office, foreshore and various other areas in Suva.

Sgt Penimala questioned Ramulo on whether Ratu Inoke Takiveikata met Khan.Ramulo said Ratu Inoke visited Khan on several occasions at his home but knew nothing on what they talked about. Ramulo said Ratu Inoke told him that Cpl Kuli told him members of the "Ints" (military intelligence) wanted the Number One (commander) killed. Ramulo said Kuli came once to Khan's home and had a discussion with Mills, but he did not know what they talked about.

The court heard Sgt Penimala questioned Ramulo on assassination plots against; Lieutenant Colonel Samu Saumatua, Lt-Col Sitiveni Qiliho, former finance minister Mahendra Chaudhry and Aiyaz Sayed-Khaiyum.

The assassination case is against Naitasiri chief Ratu Inoke Takiveikata, general manager of Pacific Connex, Sivaniolo Naulago, former head of army intelligence Metuisela Mua and former CRW soldiers, Mills, Feoko Gadekibau, Eparama Waqatairewa, Kaminieli Vosavere and Pauliasi Ramulo.  Link.
Police officers told what to ask    

Police officers who interviewed suspects in the conspiracy case to kill the military commander revealed they were given bullet points of facts of the case to use in interviews.

One of the officers who was part of interrogations of the eight suspects in November 2007 told the High Court in Suva of how they were briefed on the facts of the case by their superiors.Corporal Samisoni Ralulu sat in with senior police officer Sargaam Pillai during the interview of Barbados Mills in November, 2007.

Upon cross examination from defence lawyers he revealed they were given bullet points outlining the facts of the case. When asked who gave them the bullet points Ralulu said it was senior police officer, Nasir Ali.

He said they had a briefing of the case from their superiors before they conducted the interviews.

The accused in the case are Ratu Inoke Takiveikata, Feoko Gadekibau, Barbados Mills, Pauliasi Namulo, Kaminieli Vosavere, Sivaniolo Naulago, Metuisela Mua and Eparama Waqatairewa.

The trial is being heard in the High Court in Suva before Justice Paul Madigan.

The court heard how one of the accused was interviewed late at night. Sivaniolo Naulago was interviewed by CID officers at 11.55pm and police said it was due to the seriousness of the case. A search was conducted at Naulago’s home on Disraeli Road to try and locate any materials that may be linked to the allegations against them. The search did not turn up anything, the court heard. The trial continues at 9.30am today. Link.

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