The Fiji lawcourts in Suva ... the old Parliament House, scene of the 1987 coups. Photo: PMC

Pacific.Scoop
By Pacific Media Centre news desk

After 100 years of existence, the Fiji Penal Code has been finally overhauled and replaced with a new Crimes Decree, Fiji Broadcasting Corporation News reports.

The Attorney General Aiyaz Sayed-Khaiyum said at a media conference the new Crimes Decree would bring about  some “ground breaking provisions” into the criminal justice system.

He said it would modernise and reform the laws in Fiji and make Fiji compliant with the country’s international obligations under CEDAW (Convention on the Elimination of all forms of Discrimination Against Women).

The Attorney-General also said the jurisdiction of the courts had been extended so that a person from Fiji committing a crime in another country could be charged in Fiji.

Sayed-Khaiyum said some new offences in modern communication had also been included in the Crimes Decree.

Another new law is the Criminal Procedure Decree.

Sayed-Khaiyum said the interim government was considering implementing the decrees from February 1 and various law agencies in the country would undergo training until then.

Sri Lankans sworn in
Meanwhile, five Sri Lankan judicial officers took their commission in the Fiji judiciary at a swearing in ceremony presided over by President Ratu Epeli Nailatikau at Government House yesterday.

Two Sri Lankan judges and three resident magistrates were sworn in.

One of those sworn in was magistrate Kavindra Nanayakkara who is the lone woman in the group.

The five judges and magistrates were seconded by the Sri Lankan government to join the Fiji judiciary.

Source: Fiji Broadcasting Corporation