News

ACP Brown a witness in sedition case

September 24, 2015 6:22 am

Police Chief of Investigations and Intelligence, ACP Henry Brown took the stand today as the first witness in the hearing of the voir dire application in a sedition case.

The case was heard before Chief Magistrate Usia Ratuvili at the Suva Magistrates Court.

The application is challenging the circumstances under which a caution interview was obtained when the two accused, businessman, Jagath Karunaratne and SODELPA Member of Parliament, Mosese Bulitavu were questioned by Police.

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The two accused are charged with the offence of sedition.

Brown was cross examined by State Counsel, Lisiate Fotofili today where he recalled that he visited the CID office on the 11th of October, 2011 and he was briefed by the Director CID and senior officers in relation to the case.

Fotofili asked the witness whether he met with the suspects.

Brown said that he did not meet the two men, as the briefing only took 5-7 minutes.

Defence Counsel, Aman Singh then questioned Brown that he was spotted visiting Karunaratne’s room and threatened him in which Brown denied in court today.

Singh told Brown on that same day that he told his officers to get things organized for Karunaratne to be taken to the Queen Elizabeth Bartracks at 5’clock that afternoon.

ACP Brown replied it was not true.

The hearing continues in the Magistrates Court.