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The lawyer for New Zealand millionaire businessman Ballu Khan says his client may have been implicated in an alleged assassination plot because of his business rivals' influence on the military.
Police allege Khan is a key figure in the alleged plot to assassinate Fiji coup leader Commodore Voreqe (Frank) Bainimarama last year.
He was granted bail on Tuesday after pleading not guilty to three counts of conspiracy to commit murder in a special hearing in the Suva Magistrates Court in Fiji.
He had been held in hospital under police guard since his arrest on November 3, when he was allegedly beaten by the military.
His lawyer, Auckland QC Peter Williams, said Khan was still a sick man, who was suffering the residue of injuries to his head, kidneys and body.
"But I think psychologically at least being at home now is going to be of a benefit to him," he told Radio New Zealand.
"I think it will be a while before he's a completely well man."
Leaving the hospital on Tuesday amid police sirens, followed by negotiations with police and then the late night court hearing had been "a bit like a day out of LA Law", Mr Williams said.
He was not surprised by the charges laid against Khan, he said.
"He commenced a business here and he had rivals and we believe that they had influence on the military.
"The military have been discriminating against him for some time long before this and of course, as you know, we have a military government here, so it's a complicated thing, but there's no doubt there's been malice against him for some time and I think that has come to fruition in these charges."
Police had vigorously opposed bail, wanting Khan in custody so they could interrogate him again, Mr Williams said.
"He's certainly not well enough to be in the police cells and we've got medical certificates to that effect."
Khan "absolutely" denied any involvement in the alleged plot, he said.
"Mr Khan is a complete and absolute gentleman, he's never been violent to anybody.
"He's a man of impeccable reputation ... he's a very likeable person and a person of integrity and I don't believe for a moment there's any validity in any of these allegations."
Khan knew some of the other people charged, because he had employed them as security after learning there could be attacks on his life, Mr Williams said.
He would like to get Khan back to New Zealand, but did not think it was likely, he said. "I think at the present moment we've got to prepare for a long and robust trial. I think that probably will be eventually what will occur."
The New Zealand Government was sympathetic to the situation, Mr Williams said.
Tuesday's hearing had gone well, he added.
- NZPA
