Seat lost over sedition charge

FIJI – Fijian opposition MP Mosese Bulitavu has lost his seat in parliament after being convicted on six year old sedition charges.

Bulitavu had been charged along with Fiji United Freedom Party President and former businessman Jagath Karunaratne over graffiti, which was spray painted on billboards in August 2011.

FBC News reported they spray painted 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”.

Suva Magistrate Deepika Prakash found both of the men guilty and convicted them.

The two men will be sentenced on April 19.

Bulitavu, who is a member of the Sodelpa party, also confirmed he would not contest this year’s election.

The government at the time had been installed after the 2006 military coup led by Frank Bainimarama who proceeded to abrogate the constitution.