A businessman has received a stern warning from Suva Magistrate Yogesh Prasad concerning his repeated use of medical certificates to avoid court appearances. The magistrate indicated that if the 42-year-old fails to show up for trial again, a medical doctor will be summoned to address the situation. This warning comes in light of a noticeable pattern where medical reports are submitted last-minute every time the case is called.
The businessman is facing serious allegations, including 12 counts of posting intimate visual recordings without consent and one charge of criminal intimidation against his 37-year-old wife. The case arose after his wife discovered that intimate recordings of her had been uploaded to a pornographic website. Upon learning about this, she promptly reported the incident to the Police Cybercrime Unit, which led to the legal action being taken.
During a hearing on August 26, 2024, the accused entered a not guilty plea to all charges. Magistrate Prasad has scheduled a one-week trial to commence in May this year, emphasizing that no further delays will be accepted. He reminded everyone involved that the accused is presumed innocent until proven guilty.
Senior State prosecutor Pooja Mishra stated that the State is prepared to move forward with the trial. Bail for the accused has been extended, and the case has been adjourned to March 17 for a pretrial conference. The court’s commitment to uphold justice while respecting due process highlights the ongoing efforts to resolve this troubling matter in a timely manner.
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