Ex-Officers Jailed for Assault Win Sentence Appeal
Former police officers escape assault convictions on appeal
Friday 24 May 2024 | 15:02
From left: Dharmen Chand with lawyer Amrit Sen, Meli Matarugu, lawyer Salakubou Raramasi and Opeti Tuiwainunu at the High Court in Labasa on May 21, 2024.
Shratika Naidu
Three former police officers who had been jailed for assault walked out of the courtroom free after winning their sentence appeal case.
The three had been serving their sentences at the Labasa Corrections Centre.
The High Court in Labasa overturned their conviction and sentence on Tuesday on appeal.
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Dharmen Chand, Meli Matarugu, and Opeti Tuiwainunu were charged with one count of assault causing actual bodily harm and appeared before Acting Puisne Judge Justice Peni Dalituidama.
Following a trial, the court found the trio guilty and convicted them on December 11, 2023.
They were not sentenced until March 4, 2024. They were sentenced to 12 months imprisonment, with six months to be served and six months suspended for two years.
In his ruling, Justice Dalituidama stated that the court was satisfied that the judgment of the learned magistrate failed to consider the defence evidence adequately, leading to a miscarriage of justice.
Chand was represented by Amrit Sen, while Matarugu and Tuiwainunu were represented by Salakubou Raramasi.
No retrial was ordered.
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