Magistrate Bimsara Jagodage bailed three people charged with multiple counts in relation to the death of Joji Bale on June 5, 2022.

It comes after Abhay Singh of A.K. Singh Law, filed a complaint on behalf of his clients, Amrit Sen and his partner, Shumedha Chandra, last Friday.

Accused, brothers Jawahir and Chote Lal and their nephew appeared at the Labasa Magistrates Court yesterday. The brothers were represented by Sushil Sharma of Sushil Sharma Lawyers while Legal Aid Commission lawyer, Patricia Mataika, represented Sharma.

The brothers face 11 counts of charges while Sharma faces four charges. The charges range from conspiracy to assault Sen and Chandra, criminal intimidation, assault causing bodily harm, indecently annoying person, damaging property, theft and the attempted murder of Bale.

At the Labasa Magistrates Court, Mr Singh argued that since the case was an indictable offence, the accused should be remanded and the matter transferred to the high court.

However, Mr Sharma said that the brothers were victims and the attempt to remand them was abuse of court proceedings.

“There is no statement, no disclosures served and no evidence of interference of my clients,” Mr Sharma said.

“This is a way of taking revenge against my clients and abusing the judicial system.”

State lawyer Luisa Latu appeared on the instruction of the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions.

She informed the court that Mr Singh’s instructions in court to remand the accused was against their constitutional rights. She said the investigation into the Nasikasika, Korotari, and incident was still open and Police was carrying out the investigation.

Ms Mataika argued that the charges need to be sanctioned by ODPP and the matter should be dealt with in a proper and formal way.

She said her client was summoned following a letter from Mr Singh’s office last week and he had obeyed by appearing in court on time.

Bail Granted

Magistrate Jagodage bailed the three accused on strict conditions and transferred the matter to Labasa High Court.

He said there was insufficient evidence given by Mr Singh to remand the trio.

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