Apisai Madigibuli, who is facing murder charges for the death of his pregnant wife, has been classified as a high risk to the community by the State Prosecution, resulting in objections to his bail request. Madigibuli appeared in the Suva High Court yesterday before Justice Diane Tuiqereqere to respond to one count of murder.
The 27-year-old is accused of killing his wife, Kitiana Baravilala, who was 25 and six months pregnant, at a Suva apartment complex on July 28. Prosecutor Monisha Naidu contended that allowing Madigibuli to be released on bail would pose serious risks.
Naidu highlighted Madigibuli’s criminal history, noting he had been sentenced in 2022 and was released only last December. She characterized the alleged crime as particularly heinous. Referencing the Rehabilitation of Offenders (Irrelevant Convictions) Act 1997, Naidu indicated that rehabilitation begins once an individual reintegrates into the community, suggesting Madigibuli had not sufficiently reintegrated before allegedly committing another grave offense.
During her arguments, Naidu described the troubling circumstances surrounding the victim’s death and expressed worries that Madigibuli’s release could jeopardize the safety of witnesses. She also raised concerns about the credibility of the two sureties provided for bail, as both were located in Nadi, which further complicated matters.
Naidu informed the court that if Madigibuli were to face conviction, he would likely receive a custodial sentence and there was a strong chance he would not appear for future court dates. In response, defense attorney Paula Gade requested additional time to address the State’s claims, seeking an extension until September 30. She also questioned the State regarding their verification of the sureties, prompting Justice Tuiqereqere to direct the prosecution to promptly confirm the sureties’ reliability.
The hearing was adjourned to September 23 for pretrial conference matters and to consider the bail application. A production order for Madigibuli was also extended.