Former Native Lands Commission executive's assault conviction stands

The High Court in Lautoka has dismissed the appeal of former high school teacher and chairman of the Native Lands Commission Apimeleki Tola, affirming his conviction and sentence imposed by the Lautoka Magistrate Court.

Tola made his appeal before Justice Riyaz Hamza yesterday. He had challenged his September 22, 2025, conviction.

In September, Lautoka Magistrate’s Court handed down a nine-month committal sentence in absentia when Tola failed to appear for sentencing.

The appellant was represented by Mosese Naivalu, while the State prosecution was represented by John Rabuku.

Tola first appeared in the Magistrate’s Court on October 4, 2022, facing two counts of serious assault and one count of damaging property.

The court heard that on October 2, 2022, he assaulted a police constable and resisted arrest by a police corporal.

He also damaged a police vehicle (registration GR 117) valued at $5,091.60.

The appellant failed to appear in court on multiple occasions, prompting the issuance and extension of a bench warrant.

On June 30, 2025, his trial in absentia commenced before another resident magistrate.

During the trial, the prosecution called two witnesses and then closed its case.

The magistrate found there was a case for Tola to answer but recorded that he had chosen to remain silent in his absence.

Yesterday, the High Court dismissed his appeal, upholding the original conviction and sentence.