Charges against Kepa officially discharged

Rewa High Chief Ro Teimumu Kepa today officially had her charge of one count of conspiracy to effect an unlawful purpose namely disobedience of unlawful act discharged by the Suva Magistrates Court.

The case was called before Magistrate Thushara Rajasinghe who was informed by DPP lawyer David Toganivalu that the state wanted to withdraw the charges against Ro Teimumu.

Magistrate Rajasinghe granted the state's application and discharged Ro Teimumu.

Defense counsel Naomi Matanitobua then made an application for the Magistrate to write to the Immigration Department to lift the travel ban placed on her client as soon as possible.

Matanitobua also requested that Ro Teimumu's passport and other travel documents be handed back together with the $500 cash bond that was deposited with bail.

Ro Teimumu had initially pleaded not guilty to the charge.

It was alleged that last year between July 12th and July 29th, Ro Teimumu conspired with Methodist Church Ministers to host the annual Methodist conference in Lomanikoro in Rewa even though a directive was given by the Prime Minister Commodore Voreqe Bainimarama not to hold the conference.

However it has been confirmed that the DPP's office is still looking into the matter relating to the other Methodist Church ministers charges.

Story by: Shalvin Deo & Ana Naisoro