BROTHER PLEAD NOT GUILTY

Two brothers, who are facing serious assault charges on Police officers and damaging property charges of Police property, have pleaded not guilty. Twenty-two-year-olds, Ro Veiwili Loanakadavu and Ro Veidovi Loanakadavu, appeared before Magistrate Deepika Prakash at the Magistrates Court in Suva yesterday. Ro Veiwili is facing two counts of serious assault charges and Ro Veidovi is facing one count each of serious assault and of damaging property charges.

For the first offence of serious assault, it is alleged that Ro Veiwili, on December 14, 2018, at Suva, assaulted Corporal Isoa Vatutaqiri, a Police officer in the due execution of his duty, by punching him on the head.

For the second offence of serious assault, it is alleged that Ro Veiwili and Ro Veidovi, on December 14, 2018, at Suva, assaulted Special Constable Kusitino Toma, a Police officer in the due execution of his duty, by punching him on the head.

For the offence of damaging property, it is alleged that Ro Veidovi, on December 14, 2018, at Suva, wilfully and unlawfully damaged an accessories operation vest, the property of the Fiji Police Force.

State prosecutor from the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions, Zenith Zunaid, told the court that there were full admissions for both brothers in the caution interview and that no challenges of the caution interview was filed. Defence lawyer Nancy Tikoisuva told the court that she had received the instructions on the grounds of voir dire and would have filed it by the end of yesterday.

The matter was adjourned for mention to August 21 to check on voir dire grounds. Bail for both accused were extended.