Ten accomplices of Fiji coup leader George Speight have been sentenced to prison terms ranging from 18-months to three years.

Justice Michael Scott handed down the sentences Tuesday, one day after Speight pleaded guilty to treason. Speight was sentenced to death Monday, but the sentence was quickly commuted to life in prison.

Speight's 10 accomplices had also faced treason charges, but the charges were reduced to illegally detaining hostages. Among those sentenced Tuesday were Speight's brother. He and three others received three-year jail terms.

Speight and his nationalist rebels stormed parliament in May, 2000, claiming ethnic Indians were undermining the rights of indigenous Fijian citizens. They ousted ethnic-Indian Prime Minster Mahendra Chaudhry and held him and members of his cabinet hostage for 56 days.

Some information for this report provided by AFP, AP and DPA.

Email this article to a friend
Printer Friendly Version