Forty-nine people were charged with a total of 53 counts of separate incidents in September. These charges were only for serious non-sexual related crimes.

The statistics for serious sexual-related crimes for September were recorded separately.

This is according to data authorised for release by the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (ODPP) and relates to the number of formal indictments (Information) filed in the High Courts of Fiji by the Director of Public Prosecutions throughout the month. This data also includes offences committed by Police officers.

The offences

The offences were murder, attempted murder, manslaughter, aggravated robbery, aggravated burglary, theft, act with intent to cause grievous harm, assault causing actual bodily harm, assault causing grievous bodily harm, arson, unlawful possession of illicit drugs, unlawful use of illicit drugs, dangerous driving causing grievous bodily harm, careless driving, criminal intimidation, escaping from lawful custody, giving a false name, breach of DVRO and wrongful confinement.

The accused and the charges

Of the 49 accused persons, 10 were juveniles and five were Police officers. The juveniles were charged with aggravated robbery, aggravated burglary and theft offences.

One of the juveniles was also charged with escaping from lawful custody and giving a false name.

A 23-year-old and a 38-year-old Police officer were charged with assault causing actual bodily harm to their 27-year-old and 36-year-old wives.

A 36-year-old Police officer was charged with dangerous driving causing grievous harm to a 12-year-old boy who was crossing the road.

A 40-year-old Police officer was charged with careless driving.

A 39-year-old Police officer was charged with the unlawful use of illicit drugs. Cannabis sativa was detected in his body following a test.

There were 35 victims of the 53 counts of separate incidents.

There were seven incidents where the accused and the victims were related to one another.

A 53-year-old man was charged with the murder and attempted murder of his 49-year-old de facto partner and her 14-year-old daughter.

A 34-year-old woman was charged with the murder of her newborn baby, however, this matter was withdrawn due to insufficient evidence.

A 44-year-old man was charged with the murder of a 37-year-old woman. The accused was also charged with one count of arson for allegedly setting her business on fire after strangling her to death.

Four men were charged with the attempted murder and criminal intimidation of a 19-year-old man, however, this matter was discontinued due to insufficient evidence.

A 27-year-old man was charged with the attempted murder of his 28-year-old de facto partner.

In another incident, a 26-year-old man was charged with the attempted murder of a 20-year-old man.

There was one incident where a 31-year-old man was charged with the manslaughter of a 49-year-old man. The accused allegedly hit the victim causing him to fall back and hit his head on the pavement which resulted in his death.

A 35-year-old village headman was charged with assault causing grievous bodily harm to his 19-year-old nephew. The accused allegedly hit the victim with a PVC pipe.

A 34-year-old man was charged with an act with intent to cause grievous bodily harm to his 39-year-old wife. The accused allegedly punched and kicked his wife’s head against a wall.

Cash and assorted items ranging from $25 to $37,199 were stolen during the alleged aggravated robbery, aggravated burglary and theft offences which consisted of home invasions, office and shop burglaries, and daylight and night street robberies.

A 37-year-old and a 42-year-old man were charged with the unlawful possession of illicit drugs. They allegedly had 2.3 kilograms and 0.7 grams of cannabis sativa in their possession.

Five cases were withdrawn after discontinuances (Nolle Prosequi) were filed due to insufficient evidence and evidence of Police abuse.

Feedback: jyotip@fijisun.com.fj