A police officer facing 13 sexual offense charges involving his cousin has been granted bail. The 40-year-old man appeared in front of Justice Dane Tuiqereqere for a ruling on his bail application.
The accused, who is married with three children, requested bail to support his family financially and pay for his private attorney. He faces allegations that include eight counts of sexual assault, three counts of rape, one count of indecent assault, and defilement against his cousin, who was only 13 years old when the alleged offenses began.
The State opposed the bail, citing that the victim expressed fear of the accused, claiming that his release could lead to potential interference with her. The prosecution also raised concerns regarding the possibility of the accused’s friends or family interfering.
However, Justice Tuiqereqere ruled that the risk of interference was not significant enough to deny bail. He noted that the potential for interference exists regardless of the accused’s custody status. The judge emphasized that the evidence presented did not meet the necessary threshold to prove that denying bail was in the public interest or that the accused was likely to interfere with the complainant.
While acknowledging that the relationship between the accused and the complainant was indeed concerning, Justice Tuiqereqere stated that strict bail conditions, along with a current Domestic Violence Restraining Order (DVRO), could manage this issue. He mentioned that the accused would lose his bail status if he violated any stipulated conditions.
The accused’s two sureties have each signed a non-cash bail bond of $2000. Under the bail conditions, he is required to report to the Valelevu Police Station every two weeks and must maintain distance from the complainant.
The case has been scheduled for a further hearing on September 23.