Hank Arts bail variation application denied

High Court Judge Justice Thushara Rajasinghe has denied the bail variation application for the Publisher of Fiji Times Limited Hank Arts.

Justice Rajasinghe said in his ruling that Arts need to travel is not imperative.

He said that keeping in mind Arts has been charged with a serious offence and there is no restriction on him to have a vacation within Fiji, the bail variation application has been denied.

Arts is charged with sedition.

He was intending to travel to Honolulu from today to 17th October to celebrate his wedding anniversary.

This was Arts' fourth application for bail variation as his previous three applications in the Suva Magistrates Court, Suva High Court and the Fiji Court of Appeal have been rejected.

His lawyer Faizal Haniff also told the court that Arts will not travel with his New Zealand passport but Fijian passport and this means that he will not be able to go to New Zealand from there.

But Justice Rajasinghe had earlier asked whether Arts will be able to obtain a New Zealand passport in Honolulu since he is also a New Zealand citizen.

Haniff also told the court that Arts is 70‑years‑old and is facing charges for the last two years and needs some freedom before his trial starts.

Arts has been given 30 days to appeal the decision.