THREE people charged over the death of a six-year-old boy in Vatuwaqa, Suva, have been warned that any breach of their strict bail conditions will result in the revocation of their bail.
Senior magistrate Sufia Hamza issued the warning yesterday when granting bail to Savenaca Damuni, Vinay Prakash Chandra, and Shushila Devi, who appeared on charges relating to the boy’s death on May 2, 2023.
Mr Damuni is charged with a count of manslaughter arising from breach of duty. It is alleged that he failed to take necessary precautions by allowing his six-year-old son to stand on the blade of a forklift while it was in operation, and as a result, the child fell over and came under the forklift, which caused his death.
Mr Prakash and Ms Devi, directors of Raviravi Investment Timber & Hardware (PTE) Ltd, are jointly charged with a count of corporate manslaughter.
The two are alleged to have allowed Mr Damuni, their employee, to operate the forklift despite knowing that he did not hold a valid driver’s licence to operate an industrial truck, and such negligence contributed to the death of the child.
The two directors have been ordered not to interfere with business operations relating to the matter or with any prosecution witnesses until the conclusion of the case.
Their lawyer, Mohammed Saneem, informed the court that their son, who is a manager at the company, will operate the business while the two directors work from home.
Mr Damuni will seek alternative employment at a sister company and relocate. The court also imposed standard bail conditions on all three.
The matter has been transferred to the High Court in Suva for first call on May 8.
