The case of a farmer accused of robbing the Alison Supermarket at Laucala Beach Estate outside Suva last year will proceed to trial scheduled for September 9.
Leone Lesumailepanoni, who faces four counts of aggravated robbery, appeared before Justice Thushara Rajasinghe on August 13 in the High Court in Suva.
Mr Lesumailepanoni and two others allegedly stole a taxi after tying up the driver and dumping him in the boot of the vehicle and, while brandishing cane knives, threatened staff members and shoppers at the Laucala Beach supermarket on December 2 last year.
They’re also accused of robbing a customer of about $24,000 in cash and another of $100 before robbing the supermarket of $1650.35.
Last month, Mr Lesumailepanoni’s application for bail was denied.
Justice Rajasinghe ruled that the accused, who has 10 previous convictions, faced serious offences and had a pending matter in the Nasinu Magistrate’s Court for escaping from lawful custody.
He found there was substantial grounds to believe the accused was likely to commit an offence while on bail and may abscond from court if granted bail.
Mr Lesumailepanoni has been further remanded until the trial begins this month.