23-Year-Old Charged With  Sexual Assault  for Kissing  9-Year-Old Girl

A 23-year-old man facing a count of sexual assault will hear the magistrate’s ruling in the Suva Magistrates Court today on whether he will be released on bail or not.

He is alleged to have kissed a nine-year-old girl on the lips.

The alleged incident happened in Lami on August 23 last year when the child was sleeping in the living room with her brother.

The accused asked the court for bail. However, Police prosecutor Corporal Sanil Kumar objected.

Corporal Kumar said the accused was residing in the same house as the complainant and that the complainant was a young child.

Magistrate Boseiwaqa further remanded the accused in custody and adjourned the case to be called today before he can make his ruling.

Edited by Mohammed Zulfikar

FONUA TALEI

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Accused tells why he  escaped from custody

A man charged with escaping from lawful custody told the court yesterday the reason behind the alleged escape.

Feroz Khan, 32, told Labasa Magistrate Cama Tuberi that he escaped from the Labasa Police Station while in custody because he was not given food on time.

Khan is also being charged with possession of illicit drugs.

Representing himself, Khan told the court that he had made a mistake and promised not to reoffend. He also requested the sentencing to be done quickly, bound over and be ordered to do community work.

Magistrate Tuberi then told Khan that if he wanted bail he was to submit a formal bail application. He was then further remanded at Vaturekuka in Labasa.

The case has been adjourned for mention to January 26.

Edited by Mohammed Zulfikar

WATI TALEBULA

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