A group of eight Australians, including a Queanbeyan man, have been arrested and released in Fiji on charges of sorcery after conducting a meeting of the Freemasons society.
It is understood Prime Minister Frank Bainimarama granted the men an official pardon after the group contacted the Fijian Attorney-General's office.
''An officer came in and said, 'We have been ordered by the Prime Minister's department to release you, however, the matter will still remain under investigation, and the Prime Minster himself is coming to the office later in the day to review the evidence,''' a member of the group, who didn't want to be named, said.
The group was held at Nasudi police station for 24 hours after their arrest at Denarau Island on Tuesday night until they received news of the top-level intervention.
''His interfering on our behalf was much appreciated.''
A spokesman for the Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade confirmed 14 people, including the eight Australians, were detained for convening a Masonic meeting ''without the right permit''.
''They have since been released and we understand police are still investigating. Charges have not yet been laid,'' the spokesman said.
Full report in today's Canberra Times
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