Justice Daniel Goundar presided over two high-profile matters in the High Court in Suva today, as the murder prosecution of a police constable moved to the higher court and a prominent social media user made a fresh bid for leniency ahead of sentencing.
In the murder matter, 42-year-old Keni Salawai and 20-year-old Jope Seniloli made their first appearance in the High Court on a single count of murder. The pair, both from Qauia in Lami, are accused of aiding and abetting a third person in causing injuries to Police Constable 8012 Peniasi Racagi that resulted in his death sometime between February 21 and 22, 2026. Earlier police reports state Constable Racagi’s body was found behind the Lami Oceania Wesley Church on the morning of February 22.
At today’s hearing Salawai was represented by lawyer Tobia Ravuniwa, who informed the court he would formally request disclosure of CCTV footage from the Shop & Save supermarket in Lami covering the hours of 3am to 7am on the day of the incident. Ravuniwa said the footage is sought to assist an alibi defence for his client. The matter has been adjourned and will be called again on March 27. Both defendants remain in custody.
The High Court appearance marks a development from earlier proceedings in the Magistrates Court, where the matter was certified as indictable and transferred to the High Court. Previous schedule estimates had the initial High Court appearance set earlier; today’s listing confirms the case is now before Justice Goundar and that defence teams are moving to secure investigative material ahead of full disclosure and trial preparation.
In a separate case before the same judge, 32-year-old TikToker Lui Bale Vuiberata apologised in court for making derogatory and harmful comments about Minister for Information Lynda Tabuya on the social media platform. Vuiberata’s lawyer, Eroni Navuda, asked Justice Goundar to consider the 46 days his client has already spent on remand as time served, and to suspend any further sentence that might be imposed. Navuda also offered that Vuiberata was prepared to pay a fine between $1,000 and $2,000 as a demonstration of genuine remorse.
The State opposed a lenient outcome, arguing for a deterrent sentence in light of the public nature of the offending and its potential social harm. Sentencing in Vuiberata’s case has been set for March 17, when the court will decide whether to accept the remand credit and whether any financial penalty or suspended sentence is appropriate.
Both matters underline the breadth of cases currently occupying the High Court — from a serious homicide investigation that remains under active police and prosecutorial scrutiny to questions about accountability for harmful conduct on social media. The next procedural step in the Racagi murder prosecution will be the March 27 hearing as the defence seeks further disclosure, while Vuiberata awaits sentence on March 17.
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