A strange turn of events in Fiji

Students of military justice are aware that at times civilian judges (at least in the United States) would afford defendants a chance to avoid trial by joining the military. Here's a new twist from Fiji. According to this report, the Fijian land forces have recruited three suspended police officers who are under civilian charges for assaulting an escaped prisoner. Moreover, the army is providing them military defense counsel in the civilian case. Certainly seems like an odd occasion for legal assistance at army expense.