ODPP: JUVENILES FACE ROBBERY CHARGES

THEY ARE TWO OF THE 61 PEOPLE CHARGED WITH SEPARATE ALLEGED INCIDENTS The data release by the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions is confined to alleged incidents of serious crimes other than sexual violence offences, which are recorded and publ

There were two juveniles charged with attempted aggravated robbery and aggravated robbery offence, according to the latest statistics release yesterday by the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (ODPP).

In one of the alleged incidents, a 17-year-old was charged with stealing $2068 worth of goods. He was also charged with resisting arrest. Four other suspects in this matter are still at large. of separate alleged incidents were recorded in July.

The data release by ODPP relates to the number of formal indictments (Information) filed in the High Courts of Fiji by the Director of Public Prosecutions throughout the month. This data is confined to alleged incidents of serious crimes other than sexual violence offences, which are recorded and published separately. This data also includes offences committed by Police officers. There were 61 people charged with a total of 66 counts of separate alleged incidents in July. The alleged offences were murder (1), robbery (1), attempted aggravated robbery (2), aggravated robbery (18), aggravated burglary (12), theft (13), abduction (1), wrongful confinement (1), child stealing (1), assault causing actual bodily harm (3), assault causing grievous bodily harm (1), serious assault (1), common assault (1), assault (3), abuse of office (1), providing false travel documents (3), unlawful cultivation of illicit drugs (1), damaging property (1) and resisting arrest (1). There were 42 victims of the 66 counts of separate alleged incidents. Of the 42 victims, there were two alleged incidents where the accused and victims were related, two alleged incidents where foreign nationals were robbed and three alleged incidents where Police officers were assaulted during arrests.

A 35-year-old woman was charged with murder after she allegedly drowned her four-year-old daughter in the river. A 34-year-old man was charged with assault causing grievous harm after he allegedly assaulted his 32-year-old wife with a cane knife. A 27-year-old man was charged with aggravated burglary and theft for allegedly breaking into a shop and stealing assorted goods and $200 cash. Another suspect in this matter is still at large. In the other alleged incident, three men were charged with aggravated robbery after they allegedly robbed an Indonesian of $19,000. This matter was withdrawn after the complainant left the country and could not be located.

A 35-year-old military officer and rugby player was charged with assault causing actual bodily harm after he allegedly assaulted a Police Special Constable while executing his duty.

In another alleged incident three men were charged with assault on a woman Police officer during arrest. They are also charged with assault causing actual bodily harm of a 43-year-old man.

There was one incident where a 38-year-old man allegedly assaulted a Police officer when he resisted arrest. The accused was also charged with aggravated robbery of $582 worth of property from a 34-year-old man at knife point.

There was one alleged incident where a 38-year-old man was charged with abduction and wrongful confinement of a 13-year-old girl, whom he also allegedly raped. (NB: The offence of rape was recorded separately). There was one alleged incident where a 36-year-old man was charged with child stealing after he took a oneyear and eight-month-old child as a means to get the mother’s attention. A 26-year-old school teacher was charged with assaulting a nine-yearold pupil.

A former Ministry of Foreign Affairs protocol officer was charged with abuse of office and providing false travel documents.

Cash and assorted items ranged from $115 to $19,000 were stolen during the alleged robbery, aggravated robbery and aggravated burglary offences, which consisted of home invasions, shop break-ins, foreign exchange break-ins and daylight street robberies. Assorted items allegedly stolen during these offences include mobile phones, electronic items and household goods. A 32-year-old man was charged with unlawful cultivation of illicit drugs. He is alleged to have cultivated 16 kilograms of marijuana. Three cases were withdrawn after discontinuances (Nolle Prosequi) were filed. One case was withdrawn after the complainant left the country and was unable to be located and two other cases were withdrawn due to insufficient evidence.

Refer to the above table entitled ODPP Serious Crime (Non-Sexual Violence Offences) Statistics July 2018 for a break-down of these statistics.