Easter in remand for Padarath
LAUTOKA businessman Ben Padarath, who is facing sedition charges, will spend the Easter weekend at the Natabua corrections facility in Lautoka.
He is also charged with attempting to defeat the course of justice, destroying evidence and disobedience of lawful orders.
Mr Padarath is alleged to have committed an act with seditious intent or uttered seditious words by posting information on Facebook pertaining to an ongoing FICAC investigation, with an intention to bring hatred or excite disaffection against the administration of justice in Fiji.
The case was called before magistrate Jeremaia Savou yesterday and he ordered Mr Padarath’s remand warrant be extended and that he be remanded at the Lautoka remand facility.
The ruling came after the court discussed the issue of which jurisdiction should handle the matter.
Mr Savou later ruled the matter be dealt with by the magistrates division in Lautoka.
“This also means that bail shall not be determined by this court and shall be reserved for both parties to revisit the issue before the resident magistrate responsible for the anticorruption magistate division in the Western Division,” he said.
Mr Padarath will be produced at the Ba Magistrates Court on April 8.
Meanwhile, Mr Padarath’s partner Taina Rokotabuavukicake has been charged with one count each of false information to a FICAC officer and attempting to defeat the course of justice.
Ms Rokotabuavukicake has been released on strict bail conditions and will reappear in court on May 21.