A 24-year-old man, Ledua Vakaloloma, charged with murder, is set to appear in the High Court in Suva today for a decision on his bail. The Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) lawyer, Hezekiah Nofaga, has presented objections to granting bail, citing the serious nature of the offense.
It is alleged that Vakaloloma was involved in an altercation outside a motel in Suva in April 2020 that led to the death of Lemeki Duidomo. Nofaga argued that if Vakaloloma is convicted, he faces a mandatory life sentence, which raises concerns about the possibility of him fleeing to avoid custody.
In court, it was mentioned that Vakaloloma desires bail to provide support to his siblings, but Nofaga contended that the gravity of the murder charge takes precedence over Vakaloloma’s personal circumstances. Additionally, Vakaloloma has a pending case in the Suva Magistrate’s Court involving two counts of kidnapping, two counts of assault, and one count of causing grievous harm, which further supports the state’s objection to bail.
Nofaga expressed that keeping the accused in custody would expedite the judicial process. In response, Vakaloloma’s attorney, Karen Boseiwaqa, assured the court that her client would comply with all court orders if granted bail.