A man who received a warning for cursing a judge is requesting bail due to difficulties he is facing at the remand center. Tomasi Bose appeared in court this week before Justice Dane Tuiqereqere, charged with robbery and the serious assault of a taxi driver.
During the bail hearing, Mr. Bose expressed his desire for bail, citing poor conditions in his cell and toilet at the remand center, as well as the need to fulfill family responsibilities.
However, the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP), Zenith Zunaid, opposed the bail request vigorously. He pointed out that Mr. Bose has ongoing matters in the Magistrate’s Court for theft and property damage, in addition to an aggravated robbery case before Justice Usaia Ratuvili in the High Court in Suva.
Mr. Zunaid stated that both cases share similar circumstances. He also noted that the accused did not participate in an identification parade, which was detrimental to the complainant. The complainant, he said, is confident that he can identify the individual who attacked him and stole his belongings.
The prosecution claims to have a solid case against Mr. Bose, referencing CCTV footage that, while not showing his face, captures his clothing and some tattoos. Mr. Zunaid argued that granting bail would pose a threat to public safety.
Justice Tuiqereqere instructed Mr. Zunaid to verify the status of the accused’s pending cases and to ascertain if he had previously absconded. The State must submit its supplementary response by tomorrow, with a ruling scheduled for October 1.