Ex-cops convicted for robbing Asian national
The High Court in Suva has found two former Police officers guilty for robbing an Asian national of his $500. The two officers were Karim Begg and Ronil Ravinesh Chand.
On March 24, 2020, at Sigatoka, the two stole $500 cash from Jin Chao and immediately before committing theft, threatened to use force on Mr Chao. Mr Chao on March 24, 2020, was living in Nadi and working at a restaurant along with two others. He decided to go sightseeing towards Sigatoka and then along the Valley Road.
He had not known the exact location or the name of the road, but had been proceeding and found himself lost by nightfall. He parked his vehicle on the right side of an isolated area. He had been trying to locate himself on the map on his phone when around 11pm, the two officers Begg and Chand approached him. In evidence, Mr Chao had stated that one of the officer searched his vehicle and questioned him along with checking his wallet.
He said they requested Mr Chao to give them $600 which he refused to. Chand demanded him to give $500 and at the same time Begg showed his hands raised in front with his wrists together, a gesture which Mr Chao understood to mean to be locked up or remanded.
Mr Chao was scared that he may be arrested or locked up, he handed over $500 and thereafter he was told by the officers that it was a dangerous area where people do not like Chinese people and asked him to return immediately.
High Court Judge Justice Gihan Kulatunga said robbery was an aggravated form of theft.
He was satisfied that the prosecution had proved beyond reasonable doubt that both Begg and Chand had uttered the said words.