Update: 1:05PM A request by The Fiji Times to have copies of submissions of lawyers in the court case against military commander Commodore Voreqe Bainimarama was rejected by the High Court yesterday.
The Fiji Times lawyer Jon Apted had requested that reporters be allowed to obtain copies of submissions at their own wish.
Judges
Justices Devandra Pathik and John Byrne asked Mr Apted whether
reporters had difficulty in reporting proceedings, saying they failed
to see the necessity of the application.
In
the case proper, the judges were told to carefully consider the effects
their decision would have on other cases regarding the executive
privilege issue.
Queens
Counsel Gerard McCoy, representing Bainimarama and others, told the
three panel judges their decision to determine an issue on the
prerogative powers Ratu Josefa Iloilo exercised during the 2006 coup,
should be considered carefully.
Mr Qarases QC, Nye Perram argued there were a number of prerogative powers.