Rebel allowed to travel to Australia, Japan on bail
A MELBOURNE Rebels rugby star has been barred from contacting the teammate he allegedly assaulted.
Amanaki Lelei Mafi (28), a Japanese international representative who was born in Tonga, appeared in the Dunedin District Court yesterday after an alleged attack on 27yearold fellow forward Lopeti Timani early on Sunday.
The defendant is charged with injuring with intent to injure — carrying a maximum jail term of five years.
Defence counsel Anne Stevens asked for her client to be remanded without plea until August 3.
Mafi’s appearance on that date was excused.
JP Robert Montgomery bailed the defendant first to a central Dunedin hotel, then to a Melbourne address before he will live in a Japan apartment for three months.
While in Dunedin, Mafi must be in the presence of Rebels’ management, Mr Montgomery ruled.
He was also ordered to have no contact with Timani.
Police suggested a noalcohol clause in Mafi’s bail but acknowledged it would be near impossible to enforce.
Timani, who is also Tongan born, left the country at 18 and has represented Australia 12 times since making his debut in 2016.
The alleged incident followed the Rebels’ 4337 loss to the Highlanders at Forsyth Barr Stadium on Saturday night. The loss meant the Rebels missed out on making the Super Rugby playoffs.
A police spokeswoman told the Otago Daily Times at the weekend, the charges stemmed from an episode in South Dun edin on Saturday night. The victim’s moderate injuries did not need hospital treatment.
Rugby Australia and the Rebels issued a joint statement confirming they knew of the alleged incident yesterday.
Mafi left court yesterday with Rebels team director Tony Thorpe — a former All Blacks manager — and the pair refused comment.