Driver pleads guilty to charges

A52-year-old driver with the Office of the Prime Minister pleaded guilty in the Suva Magistrates Court on Thursday to three charges he faced. Jese Navunicagi Baoli appeared before Magistrate Asanga Bodaragama charged with refusing to undergo breath test or breathalyser analysis, failure to stop when required to do so by a police officer and dangerous driving occasioning bodily harm. On November 26, 2017, at about 3.10am Police officers were conducting random breath test operations along MacGregor Road, Suva, when the accused was stopped while driving a vehicle, registration IV281. At the time he was stopped by Police officers Baoli was informed that he would have to undergo a breath test, which he refused and told the officers that he was the Prime Minister’s driver while slowly moving the vehicle. The court heard that Baoli further refused to undergo the test and threatened to call the PM and the Commissioner of Police, at which point the officers warned him that he would be arrested.

In the process of trying to stop the accused’s vehicle, a Police officer’s left hand got stuck on the driver’s door and he was dragged by the vehicle for almost eight to 10 metres. The officer managed to open the door and release his hand, but the accused continued driving and did not stop.

Two Police officers then followed the accused in a vehicle and saw him parking the vehicle in front of the Prime Minister’s residence.

When the two officers tried to arrest him he called out to the guards at the gate, who then assisted him inside and locked the gate.

A report was lodged at the Totogo Police Station and at about 10.25am on the same day Baoli called the station and he was rearrested by Police.

The accused’s bail was extended and his case has been adjourned to May 17, 2018, for mitigation.

Police prosecutor Constable Monish Chandra appeared for the State.

On November 26, 2017, at about 3.10am Police officers were conducting random breath test operations along MacGregor Road, Suva, when the accused was stopped while driving a vehicle, registration IV281. At the time he was stopped by Police officers Baoli was informed that he would have to undergo a breath test, which he refused and told the officers that he was the Prime Minister’s driver while slowly moving the vehicle.