High Court to deal with severe burglary cases

All strict criminal cases in the Nasinu area will now be handled by High Court Judge Justice Salesi Temo.

This comes after Justice Temo presided over a number of theft related cases today.

“There is an increase in the number of strict crimes in this area which is a concern for the Court and that is why I am dealing with these cases,” said Justice Temo.

He said he presided over two cases this morning, both of aggravated robberies and burglaries which involved big amount of money.

He said there were other cases of similar nature before him.

Sitiveni Tusamoa, Samuela Beeby, Ravuama Kedraika and Peni Tulaselase appeared in one of the cases before Justice Temo.

The four are alleged to have stolen items with the value of $24,000 and are also alleged to have stolen a car worth almost $30,000.

The accused persons asked the Court for the matter to be transferred to the Magistrate courts but this was denied by Justice Temo because the crime and the worth of items involved thousands of dollars and the nature of the offence was serious.

Justice Temo said divisions with more strict crimes will be dealt before the High Court.

In another case, Pita Varikoala was also charged of burglary and aggravated robbery from the same area.

Varikoala was alleged to have stolen about $50,000 worth of items.

State lawyer Ilisapeci Whippy was advised by the court to submit disclosure and information of the four.

Justice Temo said if the witnesses of the four and Varikoala are the same, the prosecution can possibly merge them together.

The court has allowed the four to have medical examination.

Varikoala and the four will have to reappear on the October 3, 2012 for mention.

The five will be remanded in custody pending bail application.

By Ropate Valemei