A police officer facing 13 sexual offence charges against his cousin has been granted bail. The 40-year-old appeared in court before Justice Dane Tuiqereqere, who ruled on his bail application. The accused, who is married with three children, requested bail to support his family financially and to cover legal fees for his private lawyer.
He is charged with eight counts of sexual assault, three counts of rape, one count of indecent assault, and defilement involving his cousin, who was just 13 years old at the time the alleged offences began. The State opposed the bail request, citing concerns that the victim expressed fear of the accused and that his release might lead to potential interference with her.
The prosecution also raised concerns about possible interference from the accused’s friends or family. However, Justice Tuiqereqere concluded that the potential for interference did not meet the necessary threshold for denying bail. He noted that the accused’s acquaintances could contact the complainant whether he was in custody or out on bail.
The judge acknowledged the close relationship between the accused and the complainant as a legitimate concern but stated that strict bail conditions and the current Domestic Violence Restraining Order (DVRO) could address this issue. Justice Tuiqereqere asserted that the accused would forfeit his bail if any conditions were breached.
Two sureties for the accused have each provided a $2000 non-cash bail bond. The court ordered the accused to report to the Valelevu Police Station every two weeks between 6 AM and 6 PM and to maintain no contact with the complainant. The case is set to resume on September 23.