 Accused Jagath Karunaratne A defence lawyer wants the Suva Magistrates Court to vacate the hearing date of his client Sri Lankan- born New Zealand citizen, Jagath Karunaratne. This was after the Director of Public Prosecution Office had requested two more weeks for further disclosures to be served. Defence lawyer Filimone Vosarogo said that granting the DPP’s request would mean insufficient time for trial. He said there were 50 witnesses and thousands of documents prepared for the trial. Karunaratne, Mosese Bulitavu, Eroni Takape, Usaia Koroi and Waisale Daganayasi appeared before Chief Magistrate Usaia Ratuvuli on Monday. John Rabuku who is representing Bulitavu fully agreed with Vosarogo for the vacation of the hearing date. It’s alleged that between August 21 and 27, 2011, the five conspired to an act, mainly writing seditious words in public places and billboards along the Suva-Nausori corridor with seditious intention and thereby purported to bring into hatred or contempt or to excite dissatisfaction against the government of Fiji as the law established. Mr Ratuvili has extended bail for the accused persons and adjourned the matter to August 13 for ruling on the request by defence lawyers. Source: Fiji Sun, 1 August 2013. |  |
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