Talekinona Pleads Not Guilty
She was also granted bail after the court accepted her aunt as a surety and bonded them on a $100 non-cash bail bond.
Friday 28 February 2025 | 21:08
The 26-year-old woman charged for circulating an image on social media of a toddler with a glass of beer has changed her plea to a not-guilty plea.
Merini Talekinona, who is charged with a count of Giving Intoxicating or Spirituous Liquor to Children, appeared before Magistrate Samanunu Vaniqi at the Nausori Magistrate’s Court on Friday hoping to have her sentence heard.
The proceedings took a turn after her new lawyer, Sanjay Kumar interrupted Magistrate Vaniqi who was about to start reading the sentence informing her that her client wanted to change her plea.
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Magistrate Vaniqi asked why the sudden change given this was a misdemeanor.
She said she was only going to impose a $200 fine since the accused has already served two days in prison.
While maintaining their not-guilty plea, Magistrate Vaniqi informed Talekinona the case will now drag on until next year.
She was also granted bail after the court accepted her aunt as a surety and bonded them on a $100 non-cash bail bond.
Given her residence in Nadi, she is to report to the Lautoka Police Station any time between 6am and 6pm every Friday.
The matter was adjourned to August 11 to fix a hearing date.
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