Jone Vakarisi who allegedly assaulted a chef in Raiwaqa on the 28th of June this year, has pleaded not guilty.
Police say Vakarisi is alleged to have confronted the victim and asked where he was residing.
He allegedly did not like the response given and assaulted him.
He is charged with one count of assault causing actual bodily harm.
Police Prosecutor, Riteshni Lata says they are objecting to bail due to public interest and the protection of the accused.
She says if he is granted bail he will interfere with the complainant.
Lata says the accused has 6 pending cases where one of the conditions was not to reoffend while on bail.
The prosecutor says while he remained silent during the caution interview, they have eyewitnesses and they have a strong case.
Vakarisi who waived his right to counsel, said he was charged for a matter where he was produced in court on the 29th of June and remanded in custody and granted bail on the 23rd of September.
He says for this matter, he allegedly offended on the 28th of July.
Vakarisi says these are cases from the same police station and asks why he wasn't produced together with the other case.
When questioned by Magistrate Indula Ratnayake that the prosecution is saying he reoffended while on bail, Vakarisi says those cases are still pending and he is under the presumption of being innocent.
He further says he is divorced and has 4 children and is taking care of his youngest son.
Vakarisi says he pays $2,000 rent and has not paid rent for the last month because he was in custody and is trying to get things together.
He has pleaded with the Magistrate to not let him lose his home.
Vakarisi adds he did not commit the crime or reoffend.
In response to Vakarisi's question on why he was not charged with the previous case and produced on 29th of July, the prosecution says police has to conduct the investigation and they have procedures to follow before a suspect is charged.
The matter has been stood down in court for now.
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