Alleged Robber’s Case Transferred To High Court

The case of unemployed youth, Timoci Matanimeke who allegedly harmed a homeowner with a cane knife in a daring robbery at Samabula, has been transferred to the High Court.

And the case has been adjourned to January 24.

Yesterday, he appeared before Magistrate Pulekari Low at the Suva Magistrate’s Court where it was heard that the complainant died.

Matanimeke, 18, is charged with one count of trespassing and two counts of aggravated robbery.

It is alleged that at around 11:30pm on Christmas Eve 2023, a 30-year-old man heard a loud bang in the living room, upon arriving, the man saw his father lying unconscious with two deep cuts on his face.

Given the circumstances, the prosecution told the court that it needed time to file the account for Matanimeke’s first charge of trespassing as the family was grieving the loss of the victim.

However, Magistrate Low said the second count of his charges was an indictable offence which could only be dealt with in the High Court.

She said indictable offences could land offenders in prison for up to 10 or 20 years.

Magistrate Low told Matanimeke he had 21 days to apply for an Alibi Notice, where he would need to provide all the witnesses and statements against the charges laid on him.

He can also apply for bail during his first call at the High Court, but for now, Matanimeke will remain in remand because of the seriousness of the crime.

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