A police officer facing 13 sexual offence charges against his cousin has been granted bail. The 40-year-old appeared before Judge Justice Dane Tuiqereqere for a decision on his bail application. The officer, who is married and has three children, requested bail to provide financial support for his family and to afford his private lawyer.
He is charged with eight counts of sexual assault, three counts of rape, one count of indecent assault, and one count of defilement, with the alleged offenses starting when the victim was just 13 years old. The State opposed bail, citing the victim’s fear of the accused and the risk of potential interference with her.
The prosecution argued that the accused’s friends or family might also interfere with the complainant. However, Justice Tuiqereqere ruled that the potential for interference did not meet the necessary threshold to deny bail. He noted that the accused’s acquaintances could approach the complainant regardless of his custody status.
The judge acknowledged the concerns raised by the close relationship between the accused and the complainant but emphasized that strict bail conditions and an existing domestic violence protection order could address these issues. Justice Tuiqereqere specified that the accused would lose his bail if he violated any attached conditions.
Two sureties for the accused have provided a $2,000 non-cash bail bond each. The accused is required to report to the Valelevu Police Station every two weeks between 6 am and 6 pm and is ordered to maintain distance from the complainant. The case is set to reconvene on September 23.