Cop escapes jail term
A police officer convicted of assaulting his pregnant wife last year has had his 12-month custodial term suspended for three years. Court records show that on February 3, the intoxicated officer entered the room while the victim was sleeping. He then wrapped his hand around her neck to stop her from yelling when she told him to stay out of the room. She reported the matter at the Ba Police Station and had abrasions on her right cheek and a bruise on the left neck when she was medically examined. Ba Magistrate Namrata Mishra said as a police officer, the man should have known the consequences of his actions. Ms Mishra also issued a permanent Domestic Violence Restraining Order against the accused.
Aussie’s lawsuit against police fails
An Australian national’s lawsuit against the Commissioner of Police regarding the disappearance of personal belongings worth $40,000 has been dismissed. In this civil case, Cecil Quai Hoi was taken into custody on suspicion of murder by police in March 2008, where his personal belongings were seized during his arrest. Mr Quai Hoi was charged and a stop departure order was imposed. Following his trial in April 2010, he was acquitted and it was ordered that all seized items be returned to him after the appeal period had lapsed. Mr Quai Hoi said he demanded the return of his belonging but was told his request was being processed. Eventually he was told all the items had been stolen. He alleges the defendants, which include the Attorney-General, wrongfully and unlawfully misappropriated his belonging. Justice Mohamed Mackie said Mr Quai Hoi did not take appropriate and timely action to retrieve his belongings. “Had the plaintiff acted with due diligence, in a timely manner and obtained the relevant orders from the court then and there, he could have avoided all the alleged predicaments,” Justice Mackie said. “This court has no alternative but to dismiss the plaintiff’s action against both the defendants, however, with no order for costs.”
Man convicted of killing neighbour
The High Court in Suva has convicted a man of robbing and killing a 76-year-old woman at Koronivia, Nausori in 2023. During the three-week trial, Vacolo Qio chose to remain silent while the prosecution called 14 witnesses.
Records show Qio struck Chand Kaur’s face, chest, and head before violently stuffing some clothing in her mouth. Justice Dane Tuiqereqere said he was sure Qio murdered the victim and stole her personal property consisting of two mobile phones, a charger, a wristwatch, an eTransport card, and a lady’s purse. “He was in the possession of the deceased’s stolen property a short time after her death and was seen in the vicinity of the murder at the material time,” the judge ruled on September 12. “The accused has offered no explanation for why he was in possession of the stolen property. “The circumstantial evidence establishes beyond a reasonable doubt that the accused committed the two offences (theft and murder).” Meanwhile, the prosecution has failed to establish beyond a reasonable doubt the count of burglary due to no evidence being presented on how Qio gained entry into the victim’s home. “He may well have done so, but there is no evidence of this. There is no evidence of forced entry into the house. “The accused was the deceased’s neighbour, and the deceased may have unwittingly permitted the accused entry before he attacked and murdered her.” Qio’s bail was revoked, and the case has been adjourned for a sentencing hearing on September 25.
