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Fiji rebel coup leader George Speight's treason trial was Monday postponed, after his lawyer's credentials were rejected.
Chief Magistrate Salesi Temo had adjourned for the third time the oral preliminary inquiry involving Speight and 12 others, accused of treason.
"This is treason. It is the most serious crime in the country with a possible death sentence. I am aware of the efforts by all parties, especially the prosecution, to get the case going. I am very reluctantly granting this one final chance for the Speight brothers to find adequate legal representation," Temo said.
Earlier, Legal Aid Commission director Aruna Prasad refused to provide legal assistance to George and his brother James.
Prasad said the commission had not received any application from the Speight brothers, and therefore could not provide legal assistance.
She said that even if an application was filed, the commission would have to consider the means of the applicants and merits of the case.
A special hearing will be held on June 25, to consider the progress of the Speights' attempts to get a lawyer.
Navin Naidu is a Singapore-born lawyer, who studied in India and England before settling down in Seattle in the United States of America. Naidu was prevented from representing George and his brother James, as he had given his address as "under the canopy of heaven, care of Fiji islands".
A senior prosecution official told an Australian newspaper that a warrant of arrest had been issued for Naidu, on charges of forging his law degree and attempting to pervert the course of justice.
The official said an order had been issued to prevent Naidu, who arrived in Fiji last week, from leaving the country.
The official said Naidu had sought admission to the Fiji bar, claiming he was a graduate of the University of London law school.
But the university had advised Fiji prosecutors that the document presented "bore little resemblance" to a real University of London law degree.
The university confirmed they had a Navin Naidu registered as an external law student, but said he never graduated, the official said.
The Speights have now been given time to look for a new lawyer from Australia, New Zealand or Britain.
Speight had described the court proceedings as "a game, a picture show circus".
Prosecutor Peter Ridgeway told court that Naidu had not been accredited because he was "patently unqualified".
After the adjournment was announced, Speight met Naidu. They later told journalists and supporters that Naidu would after all represent the Speights.
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