A police officer facing 13 sexual abuse charges against his cousin has been granted bail. The 40-year-old defendant appeared before Justice Dane Tuiqereqere for a bail ruling. The accused, who is married with three children, requested bail to provide financial support for his family and afford his legal representation.
He is charged with eight counts of sexual assault, three counts of rape, one count of indecent assault, and defilement of his cousin, who was just 13 years old when the alleged offences began. The State opposed the bail application, citing the victim’s fears regarding the accused and the risk of interference with her testimony.
Prosecution raised concerns about potential interference from the accused’s friends or family as well. However, Justice Tuiqereqere determined that the risk of interference did not meet the required legal threshold for denying bail. He emphasized that such interference could occur regardless of whether the accused was in custody or not.
The judge acknowledged the troubling relationship between the accused and the victim but noted that strict bail conditions and an existing Domestic Violence Restraining Order (DVRO) could effectively mitigate this concern. He warned that the defendant would face immediate revocation of bail for any violations of the conditions set.
Two sureties for the accused have provided $2000 non-cash bail bonds each. As part of the bail conditions, the accused must report to the Valelevu Police Station every two weeks and must avoid any contact with the complainant. The case is scheduled to resume on September 23.