Radio New Zealand - Te Reo Irirangi o Aotearoa

Fiji Methodists in court for violating emergency rules

Posted at 02:38 on 27 October, 2009 UTC

Nine Fiji Methodist church ministers and officials have appeared in court charged with organising meetings in contravention to the Public Emergency Regulation.

According to the website Fijivillage, the defence lawyer disputed the charges, saying the court should charge the church and not its employees for organising the meetings.

He pointed out that the first meeting of the Methodist Church started in London in 1737 which was organised by the Church then.

The prosecution asked the court for more time to reassess the charges.

The case will be recalled on November the 10th.