Vakarisi pleads not guilty to the charge of allegedly assaulting a man in Raiwaqa
Vakarisi tries to get bail

Vakarisi pleads not guilty to the charge of allegedly assaulting a man in Raiwaqa

Vakarisi tries to get bail

By Rashika Kumar
05/10/2022
Jone Vakarisi outside court [Image: File]

Jone Vakarisi who allegedly assaulted a chef in Raiwaqa on the 28th of June this year, has pleaded not guilty.

Police say Vakarisi is alleged to have confronted the victim and asked where he was residing.

He allegedly did not like the response given and assaulted him.

He is charged with one count of assault causing actual bodily harm.

Police Prosecutor, Riteshni Lata says they are objecting to bail due to public interest and the protection of the accused.

She says if he is granted bail he will interfere with the complainant.

Lata says the accused has 6 pending cases where one of the conditions was not to reoffend while on bail.

The prosecutor says while he remained silent during the caution interview, they have eyewitnesses and they have a strong case.

Vakarisi who waived his right to counsel, said he was charged for a matter where he was produced in court on the 29th of June and remanded in custody and granted bail on the 23rd of September.

He says for this matter, he allegedly offended on the 28th of July.

Vakarisi says these are cases from the same police station and asks why he wasn't produced together with the other case.

When questioned by Magistrate Indula Ratnayake that the prosecution is saying he reoffended while on bail, Vakarisi says those cases are still pending and he is under the presumption of being innocent.

He further says he is divorced and has 4 children and is taking care of his youngest son.

Vakarisi says he pays $2,000 rent and has not paid rent for the last month because he was in custody and is trying to get things together.

He has pleaded with the Magistrate to not let him lose his home.

Vakarisi adds he did not commit the crime or reoffend.

In response to Vakarisi's question on why he was not charged with the previous case and produced on 29th of July, the prosecution says police has to conduct the investigation and they have procedures to follow before a suspect is charged.

The matter has been stood down in court for now.

FEATURE NEWS
Ratu Tevita Mara says being a leader is to uplift people’s lives
Being a leader is to uplift people’s lives. That is the comment from the newly installed Tui Lau, Sau Ni Vanua O Lau and Tui Nayau, Ratu Tevita M...
11 hours ago
LATEST NEWS
Police special constable charged with assault
A Special Constable has been charged with one count of Assault Causing Actual Bodily Harm after he allegedly assaulted a man in Suva last ...
10 hours ago

Fijians to benefit from faster First Home Initiative Grant processing with new digital portal
In a major step to improve housing services, the Ministry of Housing has launched Fiji’s first digital portal for the First Home Ownership ...
11 hours ago

Evangeline Kumar – from walking the tightrope to now doing solo hair hang act during VOU Fijian Flying Circus
The VOU Fijian Flying Circus now underway in Suva is not only dazzling crowds with flips, drama, juggling, the Fijian village clown and Fijian flair, ...
11 hours ago

China donates $100,000 worth of aid to Lau following Tui Nayau installation
Following the installation of the Tui Nayau, Sau ni Vanua o Lau, na Tui Lau, Ratu Tevita Uluilakeba Mara, the Ambassador of China to Fiji, Zhou Jian, ...
12 hours ago

Charge against Bainimarama amended in sacked Police officers case
The charge against former Prime Minister Voreqe Bainimarama, in the case where he is charged alongside former Police Commissioner Sitiveni Qiliho for ...
12 hours ago



fijivillage Straight Talk with Vijay Narayan
Latest Videos

Stay tuned for the latest news on our radio stations

CFL radio frequencies
IN DEPTH
Professor Prasad on fijivillage Straight Talk With Vijay Narayan
The show will focus on the 2025/2026 National Budget.
2 days ago

Tui Nayau and Tui Lau Installation
The ceremony for the installation of the Tui Nayau Sau ni Vanua o Lau will be held tomorrow, while the installation ceremony of the Tui Lau will be held in Tubou on Thursday.
4 days ago

CFL 40th Birthday
CFL’s 40th Anniversary celebrations to culminate with free concert at Albert Park on ...
7 days ago

TOP