Two young men were told by Nasinu Magistrate Charles Ratakele yesterday that the charges they were facing were very serious.

Magistrate Ratakele told the two that he did not have the power to hear their case of aggravated burglary and robbery and that the case would have to be transferred to the High Court.

The first accused Arthur Aporosa Vualiku, 25, and his 17-year-old co-accused appeared in the Nasinu Magistrates Court yesterday.

The duo are alleged to have broken into Dignified Cremations Limited in Davuilevu on January 24, 2018 and alleged to have stolen cash and assorted items.

They face four counts of aggravated burglary and theft.

In the course of the alleged offending, they are alleged to have assaulted a complainant and broke an aluminium glass worth $500.

They are alleged to have then stolen a Telecom Fiji Limited (TFL) switchboard set valued at $3500, a TFL handset worth $50, a Wi-Fi router worth $150, $35 cash, 12 cans of coke valued at $23, a silver hard drive valued at $300, a red tablet pouch worth $10, a pinch bar worth $40, $40 cash, a digital camera valued at $150 and a black safety boot worth $150. The total value of the stolen items were $4448.

Police Prosecutor Constable Krishan Keshwan served the accused persons with full phase disclosures in court.

Magistrate Ratakele advised them that they would be remanded until they are produced at the High Court in Suva.

He told them that the High Court would also deal with their bail application.

Edited by Jonathan Bryce

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