Ex-PM's Son to Defend New Chocking and Assault Charges
Bainimarama appeared briefly at Parramatta Local Court yesterday and pleaded not guilty to the fresh charges. His lawyer, Javid Faiz, did not apply for bail, and it was formally refused.
Wednesday 06 December 2023 | 09:15
The son of Fiji’s former Prime Minister Voreqe Bainimarama has pleaded not guilty to a string of domestic violence offences, including intentionally choking without consent and assault occasioning actual bodily harm.
Ratu Meli Bainimarama, 36, is separately defending a raft of other domestic violence charges, in which Police allege he choked a woman, bit her on the face and body, hit her across the ear and sent her an intimate video he recorded without her consent.
A hearing for those charges was left part-heard in the Parramatta Local Court in June and adjourned until next April.
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Now, the Herald can reveal that while he was on bail for those charges, Bainimarama was arrested at a Guildford home on December 4 and separately charged with intentionally choking a person without consent, assault occasioning actual bodily harm, and property damage.
According to court documents, it’s alleged that shortly after 3am, Bainimarama intentionally or recklessly damaged a woman’s Nissan car key, assaulted her and intentionally choked her without her consent.
He was arrested at 10.45am and taken to Granville Police Station, where he was refused bail
Bainimarama appeared briefly at Parramatta Local Court yesterday and pleaded not guilty to the fresh charges. His lawyer, Javid Faiz, did not apply for bail, and it was formally refused.
During the hearing in June for 18 separate domestic violence-related charges, to which Bainimarama also pleaded not guilty, Parramatta Local Court heard the charges allegedly related to incidents in Sydney between February and May 2022.
At the time, police prosecutor acting Inspector Darren Pearce told the court the first alleged incident occurred on the morning of February 19, when Bainimarama and the woman were driving to Sydney Airport.
Police allege Bainimarama hit the woman across the face with an open palm while they were driving and pulled her hair, causing the woman to fight him off – breaking some of her nails in the process.
Bainimarama is next due to face Parramatta Local Court on the fresh charges on December 19.
The part-heard hearing for the 18 domestic violence-related charges is set to resume on April 3.
Source: The Sydney Morning Herald
