A CHURCH minister and his teenage son have been remanded in custody by the Sigatoka Magistrate’s Court over their alleged involvement in the death of a man along the Queens Highway on August 2.
Fifty-one-year-old Ratu Vula Maimuri Ratuva and his 19-year-old son, Ratu Kinijoji Ranovo Ratuva, appeared before Magistrate Veniana Diroiroi yesterday jointly charged with one count of murder and one count of assault.
Ratu Kinijoji faces an additional charge of assault.
The charges stem from an alleged confrontation that took place between Kulukulu and Naqere in Nadroga on Sunday, August 2.
Police allege the accused pair, who were looking for three missing horses, confronted Vimal Nand, his son, and another student while they were riding horses.
Mr Nand was later found unconscious by his brother, suffering from severe head injuries.
He was rushed to the Sigatoka Hospital, transferred to Nadi, and subsequently moved to the Lautoka Aspen Hospital, where he died.
Police prosecutor Inspector Shamim Hassan strongly objected to bail, telling the court that Ratu Vula failed in his duty to keep the peace by accompanying his son to assault the victim instead of reporting the three missing horses to police.
Inspector Hassan submitted that the alleged incident occurred in front of the victim’s son and raised significant public interest concerns.
Defence lawyer Lauvula Korotamudu informed the court that full disclosures, including caution interviews and the post-mortem examination report, were yet to be served.
She told the court her clients run a horse-riding business and had approached Mr Nand near where their animals had disappeared.
Ms Korotamudu said the matter would not have escalated had the victim not fled, and also questioned claims that alcohol was involved.
Magistrate Diroiroi remanded both men in custody and transferred the case to the High Court in Lautoka.
