A MAN currently serving an eight-year sentence for aggravated robbery and a separate murder charge yesterday refused to undergo a DNA test, claiming the request fell outside the timeframe set by the High Court.
Revoni Yalayala, who’s serving a term of eight years for aggravated robbery, also faces a separate charge of murder.
Yalayala is accused of murdering taxidriver Donal Prasad on December 3, 2023, and allegedly dumping his body at Qalitu in Lautoka where it was discovered the following day. Prasad’s taxi was found abandoned in an industrial area of the city.
In the High Court in Lautoka yesterday, Sheenal Swastika appeared for the State, while Yalayala represented himself.
The court was told that judge Justice Riyaz Hamza had previously set a window between April 22 and May 6 for the DNA test to be conducted on Yalayala.
Ms Swastika informed the court a team from the Crime Scene Investigation Unit at the Lautoka Police Station had travelled to the Naboro Prison Complex to collect Yalayala’s DNA sample.
However, upon their arrival, they were informed it was dark and inmates were inside their cells.
The court heard the team made a special request to Inspector Jitoko, based in Suva, to seek permission to collect a swab sample of Yalayala’s DNA.
An email was subsequently sent on April 29 from Inspector Jitoko to the Commissioner of Corrections seeking approval for the team to enter the premises and conduct the test. Approval was granted on May 6.
When the team went to obtain the swab sample from Yalayala, he refused, saying it was past the timeframe initially ordered by Justice Hamza. In response, Justice Hamza told Yalayala the DNA testing could cut both ways and potentially be in his favour.
Yalayala subsequently agreed to be escorted to the Lautoka Police Station to undergo the DNA test.
Justice Hamza adjourned the matter to June 24.
