Seven police officers’ case adjourned as State seeks more time
All seven accused remain on bail pending the next court appearance.
Thursday 20 August 2026 | 15:30
From Left: Ratu Peni Ranamu, Sonal Kumar, Abdul Saiban, Isikeli Nagilolevu, Abdul Saiban, Ratu Filimoni Yawayawa, Owen Smith and Fenton Thaggard at High Court in Lautoka.
Photo: Mereleki Nai
The case against seven Nadi police officers charged in connection with the death of 35-year-old mechanic Richard Mock has been adjourned for two months after the State sought more time to provide information disclosures to the defence.
The seven accused — Sonal Kumar, Abdul Saiban, Owen Smith, Isikeli Nagilolevu, Peni Ranamu, Filimoni Yawayawa and Fenton Thaggard — appeared before Justice Sekonaia Vodokisolomone at the High Court in Lautoka today.
The court granted the State additional time to file the information disclosures, with the next pre-trial conference scheduled for October 22.
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Kumar, 33, faces one count of manslaughter. The court heard that between January 16 and 17 last year in the Western Division, he allegedly assaulted Mock, resulting in his death.
Saiban, 57, a retired police officer, is charged with being an accessory after the fact to manslaughter.
He is alleged to have assisted Kumar and Thaggard, knowing they were involved in an offence against Mock, with the intention of helping them evade punishment.
Smith, Nagilolevu, Ranamu and Yawayawa are jointly charged with one count of manslaughter arising from an alleged breach of duty.
Thaggard also faces one count of manslaughter.
The court heard that he allegedly assaulted Mock together with another person, resulting in Mock’s death.
The State was represented by John Vaurasi, while the accused were represented by J.K. Singh Lawyers, Iqbal Khan and Associates, Turuva Legal, Patel and Sharma Lawyers and Legal Aid.
All seven accused remain on bail pending their next court appearance.
