A man charged with damaging religious idols at the Samabula Shiv Temple in Suva in July last year was probably experiencing mental illness at the time, a government psychiatrist told the Suva Magistrate’s Court yesterday.
Samuela Tawase had claimed he was acting under threats from two female evil spirits who told him to attack the temple, according to Dr Christine Chand of St Giles Psychiatric Hospital, who gave evidence of her assessment of the accused.
Dr Chand, the State’s first witness before Magistrate Yogesh Prasad, said Mr Tawase could not recall what happened after the incident.
Mr Tawase is alleged to have jumped the fence of the Samabula Shiv Temple on July 13, 2025 and damaged religious idols.
According to an earlier psychiatric report dated September 30, 2025, Dr Chand had stated that Mr Tawase has a long history of substance abuse dating back to age 15, including marijuana, suki, and benzene, but denied using methamphetamine.
The court heard he was diagnosed with schizophrenia in June 2020 and had been on medication.
Dr Chand explained the condition as a chemical imbalance in the brain that could cause individuals to see or hear things others do not and may be triggered by substance use or pre-existing factors.
She said Mr Tawase understood the charges against him and could communicate effectively, thereby meeting the legal criteria to be fit to plead.
In her conclusion, Dr Chand said Mr Tawase was likely experiencing mental illness at the time of the offence, although substance use could not be ruled out given his history.
She agreed during questioning that Mr Tawase’s competence improved once he resumed taking his medication.
The trial resumes on April 13 with Dr Kiran Gaikwad giving evidence.
