Suspended Cops on robbery charges plead not guilty
Two suspended Police officers, who are alleged to have stolen $500 cash from a Chinese national, pleaded not guilty to the charge.
Karim Begg and Roneel Ravinesh Chand are jointly charged with one count of aggravated robbery. They appeared before Justice Daniel Goundar at the High Court in Suva yesterday.
It is alleged that on March 24, the two Police officers stole $500 cash from a Chinese national after approaching him on the Sigatoka Valley Road.
Before stealing the money, it is alleged the Police officers used force on the victim. Defence lawyer Jitend Reddy made a bail variation for Begg seeking the court to allow Begg to reside with his family in Keiyasi, Sigatoka.
He told the court that Begg’s current residential address listed in his bail was in Nasinu, however, he wished to reside with his family in Sigatoka.
Justice Goundar granted the same and ordered the accused to sign a fresh bail for the variation. The matter has been adjourned for a pre-trial conference on August 3. Bail for both Begg and Chand have been further extended.