21-year-old Charged With Trafficking Minors Bailed
A21-year-old woman, who is alleged to have transported two minors within Suva for sexual services, has been warned to remain on good behaviour. Jacqueline Lewatoga Sesenieli appeared before Justice Daniel Goundar at the High Court in Suva yesterday.
She is charged with one count of domestic trafficking in children.
It is alleged that on March 4, 2020, at Nasinu, Sesenieli organised the transportation of two girls aged 16 and 17, being under the age of 18 years, from Vesida to Caubati, with intent that the minors would be used to provide sexual services following the transportation to Caubati.
State prosecutor Shirley Tivao told the court that the state was yet to file information and disclosures in the matter.
She said there was no relationship between the minors and the accused.
Defence counsel from the Legal Aid Commission, Mele Ratidara, said the accused was appearing in custody and that the defence was yet to obtain instructions for bail.
Sesenieli told the court that she had a three-year-old child, who was looked after by her mother, and that she worked for a supermarket before being in custody. Justice Goundar granted bail to the accused and warned her to remain on good behaviour and appear on all her court hearings. He also ordered Sesenieli’s surety to sign a bail bond of $1000 and the accused to reside with her surety. Justice Goundar ordered the accused to surrender her passport to the Registry within 72 hours and not to obtain any travel documents or passport if she didn’t have any. Sesenieli was also ordered not to interfere and contact the prosecution witnesses and not to change her residential address without the leave of the court.
Justice Goundar also granted time of 21 days to the prosecution to file information and disclosures.
The matter has been adjourned July 20 for plea.