The Suva Magistrate’s Court has acquitted Jone Vakarisi after the Police Prosecution failed to provide complete evidence during the trial. Vakarisi faced a charge of criminal intimidation for allegedly threatening Alanieta Kuini by saying, “I will kill you,” intending to cause alarm. This incident took place on May 2, 2022, in Nabua, Suva.
During the court session, Prosecutor Ledua indicated that they were unprepared for trial due to the absence of their main witness, leaving only police officers present in court. Magistrate Prasad expressed his disappointment at the situation, stating that the prosecution had left him with no option.
Magistrate Prasad reminded the prosecution about Section 14 (g) of the 2013 Constitution, which guarantees the accused the right to a trial that begins and concludes without unreasonable delay. Due to the prosecutorial setback, he ruled that there was no case to answer. When questioned, Vakarisi revealed that he is nearing the end of his one year and three months imprisonment for a previous conviction related to the Nabua assault case in 2018, where he was one of eight convicted. The case was dismissed under Section 170 of the Criminal Procedure Act 2009.