Three men who wrote seditious words in public places, sign boards and bus shelters in the Western Division earlier this year will be spending the next two to four years behind bars.

Lesuma Raicebe, Joveci Namoumou and Avenai Navisalaki had pleaded guilty to four counts of sedition, five counts of arson and three counts of arson of crops and have been sentenced by the Lautoka High Court Judge Justice Paul Madigan today.  

The court heard that between 25th August and 7th October, the three men wrote seditious words in public places, sign boards and bus shelters and also set fire to the Nawai Community Post Bure, Mango Bay Resort bus shelter, Cocomo Beach Bure, bus shelter and two sugarcane fields.

The court also heard that 36 year old Raicebe had meetings with an ex-military lawyer of Delainavesi Lami and a foreign businessman where he was briefed by the lawyer that he will be in charge of operation Viti Revolution Force in Western Division.

They had planned to write seditious comments and target certain places.

While sentencing the three, Justice Madigan said that it is a seriously aggravating feature as the three set fire to police bure’s and buildings which have been built with taxpayers’ money.

Raicebe is eligible for parole after serving a two years and four months sentence while Namoumou and Navisalaki who have been sentenced to two years imprisonment will be eligible for parole after serving 18 months.


Story by: Praneeta Deo