Former SODELPA parliamentarian, Mosese Bulitavu and Fiji United Freedom Party President, Jagath Karunaratne have both been given prison sentences by Suva Magistrate Deepika Prakash.
Bulitavu has been sentenced to two years, five months and 13 days imprisonment and Karunaratne has been sentenced to two years, five months and 16 days imprisonment.
Bulitavu and Karunaratne were found guilty of spray painting words in different places between Nausori and Suva with the seditious intention of bringing into hatred or contempt or to excite disaffection against the government of Fiji. They did this with others between the 1st and 27th of August 2011.
While delivering the sentence, Magistrate Prakash stated that there was evidence of planning.
A non‑parole period of 18 months has been set.
Meanwhile Magistrate Prakash also refused the application for bail pending the appeal for the prison sentences for Bulitavu and Karunarate.
This means that Bulitavu and Karunaratne are now in prison.
Bulitavu was represented by Lynda Tabuya and Barbara Malimali.
Malimali had earlier said that they would like to appeal the conviction and sentence as soon as possible as the Writ of Elections has not been announced.
She adds that their prayer is to suspend the sentence till the appeal is heard and dealt with.
Tabuya says the court should grant bail while it considers the application to suspend the sentence pending appeal
Karunaratne’s lawyer, Filimoni Vosarogo made an application to suspend the sentence pending appeal.
He says there are observations made which would form strong grounds for appeal.
Vosarogo adds that they are asking for an order of suspension of the execution of sentence.
Magistrate Prakash ruled that bail will not be granted as there was no exceptional circumstance.
