Karunaratne and Bulitavu trial adjourned

The trial of Jagath Karunaratne and Mosese Bulitavu who are charged in relation to writing seditious comments in public places four years ago has been adjourned to next month as a state witness who was supposed to take the stand today, is sick.

Karunaratne and Bulitavu are charged for allegedly writing seditious comments at various places within Suva in 2011.

DPP lawyer Lisiate Fotofili today informed Chief Magistrate Usaia Ratuvili that he has provided the medical certificate of the witness and asked the court to adjourn the matter to next week.

However defence lawyers Aman Ravindra Singh and Barbara Malimali informed the court that they have other hearings and trials to attend next week and are only free at the end of next month.

The Chief Magistrate then informed the court that the trial will be held from the 26th to the 30th of October.

Meanwhile, immunity has been granted to Waisale Daganayasi, Usaia Koroi and Eroni Takape as charges against them were withdrawn last month. The state made an application that these three will be called as prosecution witnesses for the trial.