A 30-year-old man was told yesterday to file his formal bail application in the Suva High Court.

Ratu Semi Kabakaba Degei appeared in the Nasinu Magistrates Court charged with causing the death of another 30-year-old man in Nakasi.

The accused appeared before Magistrate Sufia Hamza charged with one count of manslaughter, dangerous driving occasioning grievous bodily harm and driving a motor vehicle with a concentration of alcohol in excess of the prescribed limit in his blood.

Police Prosecutor Sergeant Apenisa Keresoni served the accused with full phase disclosures and his right to counsel was read out to him in Court. Degei opted to be represented by the Legal Aid Commission.

Choosing his preferred language as English the charges were read out to him to which he confirmed that he understood.

On August 24, 2018 Degei allegedly drove a motor vehicle, registration number JN301, in a manner which was reckless and caused serious harm to Rajesh Chand which resulted in his death.

On that same day, the accused allegedly drove along Nakasi Road in a manner which was dangerous to the public and caused injuries to Kazal Kalpana Kumari.

It is alleged that a concentration of 110 milligrams of alcohol was present in 100 millilitres of his blood, which was in excess of the prescribed limit.

Sergeant Keresoni objected to the accused’s bail on the ground that the accused was charged with serious offences and the manslaughter charge against him was an indictable offence.

He then made an application to transfer the matter to the High Court in Suva where it will be called on September 6, 2018.

The accused tendered a letter in court asking for bail, however, he was advised by Magistrate Hamza to file a formal bail application in the High Court.

He has since been remanded in custody.

Edited by Percy Kean

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