Fiji's Vice President Jope Seniloli and five others were Thursday found guilty of offences linked to a coup in 2000 and face sentences of up to life imprisonment.
Seniloli, deputy parliamentary speaker Rakuita Vakalalabure and four others were convicted for their role in helping traitor George Speight set up a government after he had staged a coup in May 2000.
They will be sentenced on Friday.
Seniloli, who pleaded not guilty to the charge of swearing in Speight's "government" after it had overthrown Prime Minister Mahendra Chaudhry, claimed he agreed to the role in an effort to save Chaudhry's life.
In May 2000, Speight led a group of special forces soldiers into parliament, seizing Chaudhry and his government and holding them hostage for 56 days.
Speight brought in Seniloli, a traditional ratu or chief, to act as head of government and swear in a new cabinet.
A panel of five assessors voted 4-1 to convict Seniloli, and of the group charged only Tourism Minister Leweniqila was found not guilty.
The government had no immediate reaction to the verdict and Suva appeared calm.
Military commander Commodore Voreqe Bainimarama had earlier said security forces would accept the verdict, whichever way it fell, and warned those opposed to the decision against mounting street protests.
"If the people demonstrate against the law and think that the security forces will stand twiddling their thumbs, then they have another thing coming," Bainimarama said.
Police Commissioner Andrew Hughes also warned any move to destabilise the country would not be tolerated.