Seven Suspended Cops Face Court
Solomone Nute, Salacieli Tabalailai, Marika Iranasau, Koroi Lakokilepanoni, Vilikesa Baledruma, Elizabeth Sautu and Romeo Nasila are charged with conspiracy to defeat the course of justice.
Thursday 05 March 2020 | 09:25
From left: Marika Iranasau, Solomone Nute, Vilikesa Baledruma, Romeo Nasila, Elizabeth Sautu, Salacieli Tabalailai and Koroi Lakokilepanoni outside court on March 4, 2020. Photo: Ronald Kumar
Seven suspended Police Officers who are facing a charge of conspiracy appeared at the Magistrates Court in Suva yesterday.
Solomone Nute, Salacieli Tabalailai, Marika Iranasau, Koroi Lakokilepanoni, Vilikesa Baledruma, Elizabeth Sautu and Romeo Nasila are charged with conspiracy to defeat the course of justice.
The accused persons appeared before Chief Magistrate Usaia Ratuvili.
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Nute, Iranasau, Lakokilepanoni, Baledruma, Sautu and Nasila were represented by Suva lawyer Filimoni Vosarogo.
Tabalailai was represented by Suva lawyer Nemani Tuifagalele.
It is alleged that on May 5, 2019, the seven Police officers conspired with each other to pervert or defeat the course of justice to make a false statement in relation to a traffic investigation at the Kadavu Police Station.
State prosecutor from the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions, Sahil Shiraz, did not object to bail and also told the court that the State sought 14 days to file additional disclosures in the matter.
Chief Magistrate Ratuvili granted bail to all seven accused persons.
They were surrendered to the custody of their sureties and the sureties were ordered to sign a bail bond of $500 each.
Chief Magistrate Ratuvili ordered the accused persons to reside at their nominated addresses and they were not allowed to change addresses.
Nute, Tabalailai and Sautu have surrendered their passports to the court while Iranasau, Lakokilepanoni, Baledruma and Nasila have told the court that they do not have any travel documents or passport.
Chief Magistrate Ratuvili has issued a stop departure order against all seven accused persons and said the Immigration Department would be notified on the same.
Nute was ordered to report to the Nakasi Police Station every Saturday between 8am and 6pm.
Tabalailai was ordered to report to the Lami Police Station every Wednesday between 8am and 6pm.
Iranasau was ordered to report to the Nakasi Police Station every Saturday between 8am and 6pm.
Lakokilepanoni was ordered to report to the Nabua Police Station every Saturday between 8am and 6pm.
Baledruma was ordered to report to the Raiwaqa Police Station every Saturday between 8am and 6pm.
Sautu was ordered to report to the Nabua Police Station every Wednesday between 8am and 6pm.
Nasila was ordered to report to the Samabula Police Station every Saturday between 8am and 6pm.
The matter has been adjourned for plea on March 31.
Edited by Jonathan Bryce
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