Lasaro, Kanailagi charged

Former Presidents of the Methodist Church, Reverend Manasa Lasaro and Reverend Tomasi Kanailagi, appeared in the Suva Magistrates Court in the last hour, charged with participating in a meeting in contravention to the Public Emergency Regulation.

The court heard that Lasaro and Kanailagi allegedly attended the Standing Committee meeting last Friday.

The permit was granted based on the condition that they do not attend the meet.

Their lawyer, Legal Aid Counsel Aseri Vakaloloma, asked to defer the case to a later date to provide disclosures.

DPP John Rabuku agreed to that and 21 days has been given by Magistrate Eparama Rokoika to prepare the disclosures.

Rabuku also said they have to amalgamate the charges and he also asked for some bail conditions.

He asked the court that Lasaro and Kanailagi must not attend any public meeting apart from the normal church meeting and surrender their travel documents by 4pm today.

Rabuku also said that one of the bail conditions should be that the two do not commit any offence during their bail period under the Public Order Act.

Magistrate Rokoika has given Lasaro and Kanailagi time until 9am Monday to surrender their travel documents.

Their lawyer Aseri Vakaloloma then asked the court to clarify which particular meetings his clients should not attend.

Vakaloloma said he is asking the question because he received a call from the military yesterday asking him which meeting he was going to attend late yesterday.

Vakaloloma said he was going to meet his clients.

Magistrate Rokoika summed up and said that the two can attend any meeting except the church conference and a meeting that talks about politics.

Both Lasaro and Kanailagi have been released on $500 bail and with the strict conditions.  

They will reappear in court on the 13th of next month.