A British Army hopeful, a council health assistant and a security officer were among 25 who appeared at the Magistrates Court in Suva for failing to wear their face masks properly yesterday.

While most were granted bail by Magistrate Joseph Daurewa a few people were fined for not having a reasonable excuse for not wearing their masks properly.

Suva City Council health assistant, Satya Nand, 59, was fined by the Court $300 for not wearing his mask on July 5, 2021, because he wanted to spit. He was ordered to pay $300 fine within a month’s time.

Magistrate Daurewa said being a health assistant working in a public office, Nand failed to show an example to others.

Tome Sikau, 59, was fined $200 for not wearing his mask while waiting for his wife outside a supermarket in Robertson Road, Suva.

In his caution interview, Sikau said he had difficulty in breathing with the face mask.

He was fined $200.

Joseva Waluvono, 49, security officer in Suva, was fined $300 for failing to wear his mask.

Magistrate Daurewa fined Waluvono $300.

Waisea Ravu, 31, a British Army hopeful said he had forgotten to wear his mask in public.

His lawyer from the Legal Aid Commission had sought for a non-conviction to pursue his career.

However, Magistrate Daurewa did not find it a reasonable excuse under the Sentencing and Penalties Act because there was no evidence produced in court to support the job claim.

He fined Ravu $200 and ordered it to be paid within a month’s time.

They were ordered to pay their fines within 30 days or each face prison time between 20 to 30 days.

Meanwhile, the Southern Division recorded 66 cases for failure to wear masks within a 24-hour period. The Eastern Division recorded ten reports and the Central Division recorded eight cases.

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