Kishore Kumar Warned to Stop Posting Trial Proceedings
Magistrate Puamau further warned him that in the case the state prosecutor brought the same issue up again, he would be remanded and would adjourn the matter for two weeks.
Wednesday 21 February 2024 | 08:54
Accused person, Kishore Kumar and Assistant Minister for Foreign Affairs, Lenora Qereqeretabua outside the Suva Magistrate’s Court on February 20, 2024. Photo: Beranadeta Nagatalevu
Suva Magistrate Seini Puamau warned former teacher, Kishore Kumar to stop posting court trial proceedings or be remanded.
The warning follows concerns raised by State Prosecutor Moira Konrote, about Kumar’s Facebook live video which was uploaded right after the trial outside the Suva Magistrate’s Court on Monday.
Ms Konrote told the court the posted video featured information about the ongoing trial.
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Kumar is charged with six counts of indecently annoying a person and criminal intimidation.
It is alleged that Kumar, using the Facebook account Kishore Kumar Publication, had posted several videos claiming to have pornographic videos of Assistant Minister for Foreign Affairs, Lenora Qereqeretabua.
Kumar is representing himself in court.
Magistrate Puamau said because she didn’t want to turn the focus away from the trial, she could do as much as warn the accused person about the consequences of his actions.
She further advised him to visit a psychiatrist when he could. The visit is to check if he had some form of narcissistic neurotic tendencies.
Magistrate Puamau further warned him that in the case the state prosecutor brought the same issue up again, he would be remanded and would adjourn the matter for two weeks.
Assistant Minister for Foreign Affairs, Lenora Qereqeretabua outside the Suva Magistrate’s Court on February 20, 2024. Photo: Beranadeta Nagatalevu
Ms Qereqeretabua had to release a disclosure to her church leaders and the National Federation Party about the allegation and had asked for their advice should the allegations seem to affect them.
It was also heard in court Kumar had made the same allegation in 1988 after Ms Qereqeretabua won the Ms Hibiscus Festival.
She said the allegation pertained to a pornographic video of her, which until now has not been proven.
Kumar asked the court for permission to submit a pornographic video believed to feature Ms Qereqeretabua.
The court was adjourned for five minutes to allow the parties concerned and the Magistrate Puamau to view the video in her chambers.
After viewing the video, Magistrate Puamau ruled that the video could not be used as evidence for the trial as it was not related to the trial.
She also said the video looked doctored or Artificial Intelligence (AI) generated.
The trial was adjourned to February 22.
Magistrate Puamau advised Kumar to present his defence clearly in the next sitting.
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