Magistrate Liyanage Wickramasekara has issued a bench warrant for Jese Sorovi yesterday.

Sorovi is one of the nine accused persons that are charged with one count each of going equipped for a property offence, seven counts of criminal intimidation, one count of damaging property and one count of resisting arrest.

In court yesterday, Magistrate Wickramasekara asked Police prosecutor Sergeant Raymond Filipe to give a reasonable explanation about not being able to locate Sorovi.

If not the rest of the accused remanded in custody for the case would be released on bail.

Sergeant Filipe told the court that Sorovi was released from the Nasinu Corrections Centre on January 26 and there was no remand warrant.

However, Magistrate Wickramasekara told Sergeant Filipe that Sorovi was present in court on February 4 and the court had remanded him.

He said the prosecution was not interested whether the accused had been remanded or released on bail.

Magistrate Wickramasekara asked Sergeant Filipe for a substantive reason as to why Sorovi was not in court but this was not provided.

Magistrate Wickramasekara said that the prosecutor was not aware of this until yesterday when he was told and it showed that the prosecutor had no interest at all.

Magistrate Wickramasekara said he had to consider the fact that all the accused were in remand.

The nine accused are Jone Vakarisi, Tevita Bulanaivalu, Ledua Gudru, Sekove Serukalou, Jese Sorovi, Toni Sokoiwasa, Chanel Antonio Afumarata, Mark Ross and Semisi Rabakoko.

The nine accused persons are each charged with one count of going equipped for a property offence, seven counts of criminal intimidation, one count of damaging property and one count of resisting arrest.

It is alleged that on August 3, 2018, the nine accused persons in Nabua, while travelling in vehicles, were equipped with cane knives with the intention of committing a property offence.

It is also alleged that on the same day, the nine accused persons in Nabua, without lawful excuse, with intent to cause alarm threatened to kill five Police officers.

They are also alleged to have wilfully and unlawfully damaged the rear left door glass, rear left door glass outlet moulding, rear windscreen, front bumper bar, left headlamp and bonnet of a Police vehicle.

All nine allegedly resisted arrest by Police in execution of their duty.

The case has been adjourned to April 21 for bail ruling.

Edited by Percy Kean

Feedback:  wati.talebula@fijisun.com.fj