A MAN charged with assault was lucky to escape with a suspended sentence at the Suva Magistrates Court yesterday.
The court heard Dip Chand had entered a guilty plea for the charge of his own free will and also admitted to the cases summary of facts.
Chand was accompanying his wife, Ranadi Qoli, along Fletcher Rd in Vatuwaqa to work at the Happy Garden Restaurant when the incident occurred.
Ms Qoli reported the assault to the police and the police report noted she had a laceration on her inner lower lip, bruising on her upper and lower neck and bruising on her forearm.
Chand told the court he and Ms Qoli, whom he has been separated from for four months, had reconciled. But he was reminded by Magistrate Sufia Hamza that the laws on domestic violence were crystal clear.
In mitigation, Chand said he was a first offender and supported a 13-year-old son.
Chand added he was also supporting a 19-year-old and a 17-year-old son from a previous marriage and was remorseful for his actions.
Magistrate Sufia Hamza adjourned Chands sentence for three years, bound him over in the a sum of $1000 and also issued a restraining order against him.