New Zealand businessman Ballu Khan, accused of plotting to kill self appointed Fiji Prime Minister Voreqe (Frank) Bainimarama, was abused by arresting officers, his lawyer told the High Court in Suva today.
Khan and nine fellow accused, including former Counter Revolutionary Warfare (CRW) soldiers, are asking to have the charges of conspiring to assassinate Commodore Bainimarama and several of his cabinet ministers thrown out.
They were arrested after military leader Cdre Bainimarama overthrew the elected government in a December 2006 bloodless coup.
Khan's lawyer Peter Williams QC said the defendants had been subjected to abuse before and after arrest, the Fijilive website reported.
Mr Williams told the court the men had been strip searched, which was uncalled for.
He said he had presented similar cases in Canadian and Australian courts where ill-treatment by arresting authorities had led to a stay in the trial.
Justice Andrew Hickie told Mr Williams he would only consider the facts presented in this case.
Mr Williams asked that a stay be granted in this case as the police and military had violated human rights.
Filimoni Vosarogo, representing the former CRW soldiers, said his clients were being given a second chance in life by Khan, who had hired them as security guards.
Justice Hickie told Mr Vosarogo that hiring former CRW soldiers at a volatile time must have had the military curious.
The hearing continues tomorrow.
