Local News in Brief
Mau discharged
FORMER Post Fiji boss Peni Mau and employee Vinesh Kumar were discharged by the Suva Magistrates Court. FICAC prosecutors told the court they had assessed the evidence and found that they did not have enough to proceed with the case. Magistrate Eparama Rokoika discharged the men but warned them that they could be charged again. Mau was charged with conspiracy to defraud and Kumar was charged with abuse of office.
Special order
A SPECIAL order has been granted to a man so he can get a pyschiatric evaluation at St Giles Hospital without being held in custody. Leoni Wilson, facing robbery charges, told the court he was a mental patient in Christchurch, New Zealand and his medication had run out. Magistrate Mary Muir said the court did not wish to deny a man his medication. Wilson was also allowed to change his reporting venue to Kinoya Police Station.
Serial absconder
A SUVA youth with a history of absconding bail was told to bring a very strong surety if he wanted bail. Jimi Tilova, 24, was told it would be very hard to get bail as his records showed that he was a serial absconder. He has been charged with larceny and break-in and the trial has been set for August 6, 2010. However, he will return to court in 14 days to discuss bail.
No licence
A MAN found in possession of a firearm without a licence will know his fate next month. Mahendra Kapoor did not renew his licence which, according to the court, was a direct liability offence. Magistrate Mary Muir said it appeared that the accused was not a threat to public safety and his failure to renew his licence was due to financial constraints. He will be sentenced on January 5.
Reconciliation
COURT proceedings against a woman charged with assault have been terminated by the court after she reconciled with the woman she attacked in a shoe shop. Sereima Vika assaulted Losana Tinai because the latter was in a defacto relationship with Vika's husband. Tinai told the court that she had accepted Vika's apology. Vika was ordered to pay $20 in medical costs incurred by the complainant.
Go be a fisherman
IT is better that you be a fisherman in your village then be unemployed and get up to mischief, a youth was told by the Magistrate Court in Suva. Vilikesa Koli, 23, who, along with a friend, broke into a tool shed to look for scrap metal, was given a suspended sentence. Koli told the court in mitigation that he wished to go back to his village in Lau to be with his brother so he could be a fisherman. He said he lived with his father and was unemployed.
Officer in court
A SENIOR officer of the Department of Immigration who kept detainees at an apartment owned by his private company will know his fate next year. Naibuka Vuli was charged with 12 counts of extortion. He is accused of having 12 detainees pay him for being detained at Leah's Apartment, a detention centre operated by Naduvuna Trust Company, of which Vuli was a Director. Magistrate Mosese Naivalu will deliver judgment on January 20, 2010 in the Nadi Magistrates Court.