Pita Matairavula (left) with his lawyer Mehboob Raza (middle) at the Nasinu Magistrates Court
THE Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions yesterday successfully opposed the bail application of a soldier on assault charges on the grounds he was evading arrest by being at military barracks where police were refused entry.
However, Pita Matairavula's lawyer Mehboob Raza said reports that his client was on the run was not true.
Mr Matairavula, one of the five accused in the alleged assault of Iowane Benedito, appeared before Magistrate Charles Ratakele at the Nasinu Magistrates Court.
State lawyer and Assistant Director of Public Prosecution Michael Delaney said there was a risk of Matairavula not complying with bail.
In his objection to bail, Mr Delaney said police had gone to Matairavula's residence following a directive from the Commissioner of Police and senior officers to charge the five accused persons. Officers were told by his wife that he had gone to the shop to buy bread but he did not return.
Mr Delaney claimed that Matairavula was evading arrest since October 21 and was at the military barracks where police officers were denied entry.
He added that police took a sensible position and went to the Lautoka High Court on October 28 where the accused was facing a similar charge.
Police were told Matairavula would be brought to Suva to face his charges, which did not happen. Mr Delaney continued that Matairavula had waited for his co-accused persons to be granted bail and then he surrendered himself to the police.
Officer in charge of the investigations Inspector Semi Senitiri took the witness stand and informed the court of their attempts to arrest Matairavula.
Mr Raza asked the court to grant bail to Matairavula on the grounds that was married with two children, a class one warrant officer, had no previous convictions and has his own property in Kinoya.
The defence lawyer also told the court that a media report saying his client had ammunition and was on the run from police was not entirely true.
He added there was no attempt by police to arrest Mataraivula who had voluntarily surrendered himself to police.
Matairavula has been remanded in custody to await Magistrate Ratakele's decision on his bail application on November 13. A video of five persons assaulting Benedito went viral on social networks two years ago, which prompted police investigations. Source: Fiji Times
However, Pita Matairavula's lawyer Mehboob Raza said reports that his client was on the run was not true.
Mr Matairavula, one of the five accused in the alleged assault of Iowane Benedito, appeared before Magistrate Charles Ratakele at the Nasinu Magistrates Court.
State lawyer and Assistant Director of Public Prosecution Michael Delaney said there was a risk of Matairavula not complying with bail.
In his objection to bail, Mr Delaney said police had gone to Matairavula's residence following a directive from the Commissioner of Police and senior officers to charge the five accused persons. Officers were told by his wife that he had gone to the shop to buy bread but he did not return.
Mr Delaney claimed that Matairavula was evading arrest since October 21 and was at the military barracks where police officers were denied entry.
He added that police took a sensible position and went to the Lautoka High Court on October 28 where the accused was facing a similar charge.
Police were told Matairavula would be brought to Suva to face his charges, which did not happen. Mr Delaney continued that Matairavula had waited for his co-accused persons to be granted bail and then he surrendered himself to the police.
Officer in charge of the investigations Inspector Semi Senitiri took the witness stand and informed the court of their attempts to arrest Matairavula.
Mr Raza asked the court to grant bail to Matairavula on the grounds that was married with two children, a class one warrant officer, had no previous convictions and has his own property in Kinoya.
The defence lawyer also told the court that a media report saying his client had ammunition and was on the run from police was not entirely true.
He added there was no attempt by police to arrest Mataraivula who had voluntarily surrendered himself to police.
Matairavula has been remanded in custody to await Magistrate Ratakele's decision on his bail application on November 13. A video of five persons assaulting Benedito went viral on social networks two years ago, which prompted police investigations. Source: Fiji Times
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