The driver accused of causing the death of Kavya Pillay, 4, and injuring her mother, Anushka Nair, has been released on strict bail conditions.

Sikeli Volavola, 40, of Naqeledamu, Cuvu, appeared before Sigatoka Magistrate Tomasi Bainivalu yesterday.

Volavola has been charged with one count of dangerous driving occasioning death, one count of driving a motor vehicle with an expired driver’s licence and one count of contravening the third party policy.

Magistrate Bainivalu ordered the accused with two sureties for a cash bail bond of $1000 each.

Volavola has to report to the Sigatoka Police Station on Monday, Wednesday and Friday weekly from 6am-6pm.

He has to surrender all travel documents and not to interact with the police witness and not to reoffend while on bail.

Magistrate Bainivalu told the court that he made the ruling after the court heard both oral submission of the Police Prosecutor, Sergeant Mohammed Shamim, and Defence counsel, Nemani Vakacakau, on Monday.

He told the court that there was no concrete evidence to support the claim made by the prosecutor, except that it was a case of public interest.

He added that the accused was not a threat to the public and not a flight risk and he was  unlikely not to appear for his court cases.

“There is a lot of reckless driving that cause accident but it is not justifiable, not to grant him bail with his conditions,” Magistrate Bainivalu said.

Magistrate Bainivalu deferred the plea and the case will be called on November 22.

Edited by Nemani Delaibatiki

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