4 men who robbed Waiwai couple placed on remanded
Four men who were allegedly involved in robbing the home of a couple at Waiwai, Ba, on Saturday morning were remanded yesterday.
The four men, Peni Tuilaselase, 43, of Nakasi, Manasa Waqa, 43, of Nasinu, Mosese Cakau, 39, of Lautoka and Togalesi Matarara, 35, of Nausori appeared before Magistrate Isiromi Turaga at the Ba Magistrates Court charged with two counts of aggravated robbery and one count of theft each.
It is alleged that the four men forcefully entered the home of the couple and stole a mobile phone, cash, jewellery before they forced the couple into their Toyota van and drove to Lautoka where it was later found abandoned. Tuilaselase and Waqa told Magistrate Turaga they did not understand the charges after it was read out to them in both iTaukei and English.
Waqa further told Magistrate Turaga he did not understand the allegations made against him. Cakau and Matarara understood the charges.
Tuilaselase opted to engage a private counsel, Waqa chose to represent himself while Cakau opted to engage with legal aid.
Police prosecutor, Corporal Anilesh Kumar said the fourth accused, Matarara was just handed his disclosures and was charged on Monday.
Magistrate Turaga told the court that the offences were indictable and he refused bail for all accused persons.
The case has now been transferred to the High Court and all four accused persons will appear on September 27, 2019, for mention.