The State has moved to revoke the bail of Edward Nand, one of the two men accused of murdering Narend Chand, a Fiji-born Canadian national, in February 2023. The application was presented by Prosecutor Zenith Zunaid before Justice Siainiu Fa’alogo Bull at the High Court in Suva. Nand, alongside co-accused Salimoni Lagicere, faces serious charges including murder, abduction with intent to commit murder, aggravated robbery, theft, and multiple breaches of bail conditions.
During the proceedings, Prosecutor Zunaid highlighted that Nand allegedly committed an offence that violated his bail conditions, leading to his recent arrest in an unrelated case currently being investigated by the Totogo Police Station. Zunaid expressed concerns regarding Nand’s potential threat to public safety and the likelihood of further serious offences.
The incident involving Narend Chand is particularly troubling, as it is alleged that he was lured to meet a woman he had been conversing with on social media; unbeknownst to him, this account was fake and controlled by one of the accused. Tragically, upon arriving in Fiji, he was allegedly ambushed and robbed. Chand’s body was later discovered in the Waimaro River near Waito Settlement.
Justice Bull has granted Nand’s lawyer a week to respond to the prosecution’s request. The case is set to reconvene on February 5, following the pending results of DNA tests to confirm the identity of the deceased.
This development underlines the critical importance of addressing bail violations, particularly in serious criminal cases, as it serves to protect the community from potential threats. It reaffirms the legal system’s commitment to ensuring that alleged offenders who pose risks are held accountable and that justice proceeds in a timely manner.
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