A man of Rifle Range, Lau­toka, was denied bail on Monday after the court learned that he had a criminal case pending before the Nadi Magistrates Court.

Akshay Nawal Raju, 27, who was allegedly involved in a rob­bery case outside the ANZ Bank Namaka Branch in Nadi last Wednesday, appeared before Magistrate Nirosha Kannan­gara.

He is charged with one count of aggravated robbery.

Raju was denied bail by the Nadi Magistrates Court because he still had a pending criminal case before the Nadi Magistrates Court and was convicted of theft in 2014 by the Lautoka Magis­trates Court.

Raju is alleged to be the driver of a vehicle involved in robbing a woman in her 60s outside the ANZ Bank Namaka Branch in Nadi. The woman was said to be carrying more than $15,000 in cash.

Defense lawyer, Munsami Chet­ty said the accused had never breached any bail conditions in the pending matter because he had been attending all his court cases and he was ready to pro­vide surety.

Mr Chetty also told the court that a curfew could be imposed.

Magistrate Kannangara ruled that he was likely to reoffend if granted bail.

The accused will appear in the High Court in Lautoka on March 6.

Edited by Ranoba Baoa

nicolette.chambers@fijisun.com.fj