High price to pay for trial
TAXPAYERS paid tens of thousands of dollars for a Commonwealth Games official to return to Australia to face trial for an alleged sexual assault.
As it would with other overseasbased defendants, the public covered Kayseeven Teeroovengadum’s flights, accommodation and food – and face having to do it again after a jury was unable to reach a verdict following a week-long trial in the Southport District Court.
The former chef de mission of the 2018 Mauritius Games team has strongly denied the allegations.
Teeroovengadum is accused of squeezing the buttocks of a Mauritian athlete during a photo shoot in the athletes village on the eve of the Gold Coast Commonwealth Games in March 2018.
He pleaded not guilty to sexual assault and, in the alternative, common assault.
After a week of evidence – with all witnesses appearing via videolink from Mauritius – a jury was unable to determine a verdict.
This means the Director of Prosecutions will have to determine whether to go ahead with a second trial.
The Bulletin can reveal that, consistent with other prosecutions, taxpayers have footed the bill to have Teeroovengadum return to the country for the
court proceedings.
The 58-year-old was on a criminal justice visa to attend the trial, which means the DPP would have had to foot the bill.
Teeroovengadum was flown into Australia the Sunday before the trial and returned home the day after the trial finished – a total of six nights.
Cases with similar allegations can be dealt with at the Magistrates Court level.
It is understood it was the prosecution’s decision to elevate the matter to the District Court, which forced the need for a jury trial.
It is estimated a jury trial costs about $20,000 a day to run when expenses involving the jury, judge, court staff and prosecutor are considered.
The trial ran across five days. The DPP is still yet to determine if a second trial will go ahead.
A spokesman from the office of DPP said no comment would be provided as the matter is still before the courts.