Radio Announcer’s Case Transferred To High Court

The case of a 54-year-old radio announcer facing manslaughter charges has been transferred to the High Court in Suva.

Pio Ratuwaqa appeared before Magistrate Asanga Bodaragama yesterday and was further remanded in custody.

Ratuwaqa faces a charge of driving with a concentration of alcohol beyond the excess limit present in his blood, which will be heard in the Magistrates Court in Suva.

Police prosecutor Corporal Monish Chandra made an application for the manslaughter charge to be transferred to the High Court because it was an indictable offence.

He told the court that on Monday Magistrate Geethani Wijesinghe remanded the accused in custody.

Defence lawyer Filimoni Vosarogo told the court that it would be appropriate for the indictable offence to be dealt with by the High Court.

He applied for bail for Ratuwaqa, however the application was rejected by Magistrate Bodaragama who said the formal bail application should be made in the High Court.

Ratuwaqa was involved in an accident last Saturday morning.

He allegedly lost control of a vehicle, causing it to veer off the road at Gardner Place, Nasese.

A team from the Totogo Police Station, Suva, managed to rescue Ratuwaqa and 26-year-old woman Anne Taake from the vehicle, which was partly-submerged in water.

Ms Taake was rushed to the CWM Hospital, but was pronounced dead on arrival.

It is also alleged that Ratuwaqa was allegedly under the influence of alcohol at the time.

The manslaughter matter was adjourned to April 17 for first call in the High Court.

For the traffic matter, Ratuwaqa’s bail was further extended and adjourned to May 8 for plea.

Edited by Epineri Vula