A 35-year-old farmer accused of murder of a 21-year-old man in Bau in February this year has been told to remain on good behaviour while on bail.

Setareki Ratatagia appeared before Judge Justice Daniel Goundar yesterday at the High Court in Suva for his bail hearing.

Ratatagia is charged with one count of murder.

The alleged incident occurred on February 3 at Namuka village in Bau, Tailevu.

The accused allegedly assaulted the victim whereby he fell from the village seawall.

The deceased was rushed to the Nausori Hospital where he was pronounced dead on arrival.

State prosecutor from the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions, Setefano Komaibaba told the court that the State was not objecting to bail given the fact that the accused would be residing away from the village where the incident allegedly took place.

Defence counsel David Toganivalu told the court that the accused would be residing at the Church Hall in Nausori which was away from the village.

Justice Goundar granted bail to Ratatagia and ordered his two sureties to sign a bail bond of $5000 each.

He also ordered Ratatagia to reside at the Church and not to change his residential address until the leave of the court.

The accused was ordered not to contact or interfere with the prosecution’s witnesses and not to obtain any travel documents.

He was also ordered to turn up to court on all his court dates and report to the Nausori Police Station every Saturday between 6am and 6pm.

The matter will be called for a pre-trial conference on May 7, 2021.

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