The High Court in Suva will pass judgment on police officers charged with aggravated robbery on Monday.
The case of Sigatoka policemen Karim Begg and Ronil Ravinesh Chand was called before High Court judge Justice Gihan Kulatunga for closing submissions yesterday.
They were charged jointly with one count of aggravated robbery for allegedly threatening Jin Chao with arrest if he did not give them money on March 24, 2020, after approaching him along the Sigatoka Valley Rd.
As a result of the alleged threat, Mr Chao handed them $500.
While giving evidence, Mr Chao told the court he got lost and stopped his car when a police vehicle from Keyasi Police Station parked beside his.
He was asked to show his identification and how much money he had.
When he said he had $1050, Mr Chand made a “handcuff’ gesture and Mr Begg asked if he wanted to “go in”.
State prosecutor Pooja Mishra said policemen and women were paid by the taxpayers of this country to protect and serve the public, however, the case was one policemen, “dirty cops”, who abused their authority.
Ms Mishra said the prosecution was relying on the principle of joint enterprise and the confessions of the accused.
She said Mr Chao was a credible witness, having no reason or motive to lie and his evidence was consistent.
She also said when Mr Chao reported the matter at the Sigatoka Police Station, he said two “Indian police officers” took the money from him, and Assistant Superintended of Police Harish Prasad, knew Messrs Begg and Chand were the only non-iTaukei officers in the Keyasi jurisdiction.
Defence counsel Jitendra Reddy said it was for the court to decide whether they were “dirty cops” and that this was a case of fabricated evidence.
Mr Reddy said the two police officers were whistle-blowers who reported on ASP Prasad allegedly crossing the COVID-19 containment border which resulted in a criminal case against him.
He said the there was no positive identification as the incident took place at night in a secluded place along a country road.
He also said it was very unusual for a foreigner to go sightseeing in a drug prone area in the middle of the night.
The matter will be called on Monday for judgment.
