Assistant principal denied bail in indecent assault case

An assistant school principal charged with indecent assault was denied bail yesterday by the Labasa Magistrates Court.

The teacher, who allegedly assaulted his Year 12 student during a night class in the school early this week, appeared before Magistrate Cama Tuberi.

Police Prosecutor Constable Monish Chandra objected to the teacher’s bail application made by Kelepi Ratule, who stood in court on behalf of lawyer Amrit Sen. Constable Chandra requested the court for the accused to be further remanded.

He revealed the victim was a Year 12 student who is from the same school where the teacher was teaching.

He said sending the teacher back to the school would not be appropriate because the chances were high he would interfere with the victim and the witnesses and reoffend. Constable Chandra also took the time to explain in court that tension was high in the community.

Mr Ratule said his client was going to meet the heads of the Ministry of Education in Labasa and arrange with them if he could get transferred to one of the schools in Bua because his family lived there. He requested Magistrate Tuberi if his client could be released on bail since he was a first offender, married with two children and had to look after his family.

Magistrate Tuberi said it was a serious offence and he could not instruct the Ministry of Education to give his client a transfer. He also said he could not release the accused on bail to look after his family because such factors could not be considered in serious offences. Therefore he instructed that the teacher be further remanded and escorted to the office of the Ministry of Education in Labasa to make his submission. He also informed Mr Ratule to file a proper bail application. The case has been adjourned for mention on October 9.