Legal Aid to assist Ratu Inoke

High Court judge Justice Daniel Gounder stressed in court today that if someone is charged with a serious offence he should be given some assistance.

This follows an application made by lawyer Filimoni Vosaroqo this morning that Naitasiri chief Ratu Inoke Takiveikata wants a Queens Counsel to represent him in the November 2000 mutiny retrial.

When the case was called this morning, an application by Vosarogo to adjourn the case was refused by Judge Gounder saying that ample time was given to Takiveikata to seek the assistance of a Queens Counsel since the matter was last adjourned in November last year and the alleged offence took place almost ten years ago.

Judge Gounder then ordered that the director of the Legal Aid Commission Sunil Sharma appear before him this afternoon and he is to assist Takiveikata in the trial.

Sharma revealed in court this afternoon that he has received an email from a senior counsel from Australia Peter Maiden who has been communicating with Takiveikata.

Sharma said Maiden will be in Suva on Monday but will not be present for the trial.

In response to this, Justice Gounder told Sharma to advise Maiden that the trial is on and it is either he appears or not and said that he should not be paid to come and argue for anything that is obvious.

Sharma then told Justice Gounder that he is happy to consult with Ratu Inoke and requested that Ratu Inoke be given permission to go to his office to discuss the matter.

The matter will be recalled at 10am tomorrow.


Story by: Tokasa Rainima