News Court

Man in Samabula temple sacrilege case remanded for safety reasons

He might do something more serious than before - Magistrate

Man in Samabula temple sacrilege case remanded for safety reasons

Samuela Tawase, the man who was involved in the alleged sacrilege case at the Shiv Temple in Samabula has been remanded in custody for another 14 days as it is unsafe to release him now.

Tawase appeared before Magistrate Yogesh Prasad this morning.

Magistrate Prasad says in the frame of mind Tawase is in, he might do something more serious than what he did before.

Prasad says he will keep Tawase at the Remand Centre until he is satisfied that the State knows what it intends to do.

He says Fiji does not currently have a proper rehabilitation centre for drug addicts, and Tawase cannot be placed at Saint Giles since he has already run away from there and would end up on the streets again.

When the family asked for Tawase to be released to them on bail, Magistrate Prasad says he will keep him in remand until he is safe to be released.

He says there needs to be proper rehabilitation for Tawase to ensure he takes his medication on time, and unless there are assurances of a suitable place for him, it will not be safe to release him into the public.

This comes as a medical report has found Tawase to be mentally unstable and unfit to stand trial.

Tawase is charged with one count of sacrilege and one count of throwing object.

It is alleged that the 28-year-old jumped the temple fence and destroyed the idols with a crowbar on the the 13th of this month.

The matter has been adjourned until the 26th of August.

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