Police officers who allegedly robbed foreigner on strict bail
Two Police officers from Sigatoka charged with aggravated robbery were granted bail in the Suva High Court yesterday. Ronil Chand and Karim Begg appeared before Justice Daniel Goundar. They were represented by private lawyer Jitendra Reddy.
It is alleged that on March 24 the two officers stole $500 cash from a Chinese national after approaching him on Sigatoka Valley Road.
State prosecutor Zenith Zunaid, who did not object to their bail application, however, requested that strict bail conditions be given. Justice Goundar enquired about the status of their employment to which Mr Zunaid said they would have been suspended from the force. The court heard that the circumstances of offending were that the complainant was on a road trip from
Nadi when he was stopped by the duo who threatened to arrest him if he did not give them $500.
After the alleged incident the complainant returned to Nadi and told others about the ordeal.
He returned to the Sigatoka Police Station to lodge a complaint, and the two officers were identified and $400 was recovered from Begg’s house. Mr Zunaid said Chand had made a confession about the incident in the presence of officers at the Sigatoka Police Station. However no admissions were made in the caution interviews.
Both men were bailed on $500 surety bond each and ordered to reside with their sureties in Narere and Newtown respectively. They were also ordered to each report to the nearest Police Station every end of the month between 6am and 6pm. Their case has been adjourned to June 3 for plea.