Local News in Brief
Help for trooper
THE family of injured British Army soldier Lance Corporal Peniasi Namarua left Fiji yesterday for England to help his wife take care of him. LCpl Namarua was injured in Afghanistan last week. British High Commission political and communication adviser Vineeta Nand said LCpl Namarua was still in hospital and his wife was there to support him. Ms Nand said LCpl Namarua was in a stable condition but was still seriously ill.
Teacher faces rape
A TEACHER at a prominent school in Lautoka who allegedly tried to rape a student has been bailed for $500 by the Lautoka court. The man appeared before magistrate Usaia Ratuvili, charged with attempted rape. He allegedly tried to rape a Form Seven student. Mr Ratuvili warned the teacher not to intefere with the student. He is to reappear in court on December 10.
Church visit
A HIGH-RANKING member of the Latter-Day-Saints Church arrived in Fiji on Monday. Dieter F. Uchtdorf was the first German to be named a member of the Church's three-man first presidency, the church's highest governing body. LDS public affairs director Willie Kwansing said they would hold two meetings with him. He said his tour started in American Samoa on November 7 and included stops in Samoa, Tonga and French Polynesia. Mr Uchtdorf will meet church leaders, members and guests during his 10-day visit.
Fire trainers
TWO Japanese fire officers who were in the country for the past three months were farewelled at the National Fire Authority headquarters in Walu Bay yesterday. Matsusaka Fire Service's fire commissioner Jitsuo Nishikawa and paramedic Kenji Nakanishi worked with NFA as technical officers on a three-month program to provide training on improved fire-fighting operations and for paramedics and first-aid. Training has been done at the Nadi, Suva and Labasa fire stations since August. The team was expected at Levuka but the trip was cancelled because of the tsunami warning last month.
Court waits
THE Suva court wants more information from the DPP's Office before proceeding with an assault case. David Prasad, 53, is yet to make a plea as the police prosecutor is waiting for the information from the DPP's o office. The defence lawyer told the court he was not given an explanation for the delay. The case will be called on December 3.
Lenient sentence
A FIRST offender who told the Suva court he wanted to reform and look for a job to support his family was given a suspended sentence for office break-in and larceny. Laisiasa Roko pleaded guilty to three the counts of larceny he committed last month. He was sentenced to 12 months, suspended for three years.
Case adjourned
A YOUTH who escaped from police custody will face the court after the prosecution decided they had enough evidence to proceed. Pete Jiuta, 20, is yet to make a plea, saying his lawyer was busy at the Nausori court.
