A police officer facing 13 sexual offense charges involving his cousin has successfully secured bail. The 40-year-old defendant appeared before Judge Justice Dane Tuiqereqere for a bail hearing yesterday.
The officer, who is married and a father of three, requested bail to enable him to financially support his family and afford his private attorney. The charges against him include eight counts of sexual assault, three counts of rape, as well as one count of indecent assault and defilement, with the alleged offenses starting when his cousin was just 13 years old.
The State opposed the bail release, citing that the victim expressed fear of the accused, raising concerns that his release could lead to potential interference with her. Additionally, the prosecution warned about the risk of interference by the accused’s friends or family.
However, Justice Tuiqereqere ruled that the potential for interference did not meet the necessary threshold for denying bail. He noted that the accused’s friends or family could potentially approach the complainant regardless of whether he was held in custody or released on bail.
The judge acknowledged the concerns regarding the close relationship between the accused and the complainant but emphasized that these issues could be managed with stringent bail conditions alongside the existing domestic violence restraining order (DVRO).
Justice Tuiqereqere indicated that any breach of the bail conditions would result in the immediate revocation of the defendant’s bail. Each of the accused’s sureties was bonded by a $2000 non-cash bail bond. The judge mandated that the accused must report to the Valelevu Police Station bi-weekly between 6 am and 6 pm and prohibited him from contacting the complainant.
The case is scheduled to resume on September 23.