KEY POINTS:
New Zealand millionaire businessman Ballu Khan was yesterday granted bail in a special hearing in the Suva magistrates court in Fiji.
Police allege Mr Khan is a key figure in the alleged plot to assassinate Fiji coup leader Commodore Frank Bainimarama last year.
A state lawyer told the Suva court yesterday that Mr Khan was the instigator and financier of the plot to kill Fiji's interim prime minister and two cabinet ministers, the Fiji Live news website reported.
Mr Khan had been held in hospital under police guard since his arrest on November 3, last year, but was released in Suva yesterday after a High Court hearing.
He was escorted by police to the Suva magistrate court at 9.15pm on Tuesday where Asishna Prasad, a senior counsel at the Director of Public Prosecutions Office, made the accusations while opposing Mr Khan's bail application.
Appearing before Magistrate Aminiasi Katonivualiku, Mr Khan was charged with three counts of conspiracy to murder.
He is alleged to have planned to assassinate interim Prime Minister Commodore Voreqe Bainimarama, interim Finance Minister Mahendra Chaudhry and interim Attorney General Aiyaz Sayed-Khaiyum between August and November last year.
Mr Khan denied the charges.
His lawyer, Peter Williams, requested bail, arguing that 10 others similarly charged late last year are out on bail. Mr Williams also argued that Khan was still ill and submitted three medical reports.
Ms Prasad opposed the application, saying Khan was charged with "serious offences" that carried a maximum sentence of 14 years imprisonment.
Mr Khan was granted a $1000 bail with strict condition. He must report to the Central Police Station in Suva three days a week, remain at his Kavika Place home, and not interfere with witnesses in the case.
He has also been put on home curfew between 6pm and 6am daily. Police have been instructed to hand over Khan's passport to the court.
The matter was adjourned to January 15 to allow the prosecution to disclose relevant documents to the magistrate court before the case is referred to the High Court.
- NZPA
