Suva High Court Judge Justice Thushara Rajasinghe has questioned why the operators of a ferris wheel involved in a fatal incident in Suva in 2023, have not been charged.
The issue was raised during proceedings involving Occupational Health and Safety Inspector Ashneel Nath, who is charged with one count of manslaughter arising from an alleged breach of duty linked to the death of a 21-year-old woman who fell from the ferris wheel in June 2023.
Principal Legal Officer of the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions, Sadaf Shameem told the court that the operators had fled.
Shameem told the court that Nath allegedly failed to properly inspect the ferris wheel before it began operating.
The defence lawyer also informed the court that the statement of the Investigating Officer had not been disclosed to the defence.
Justice Rajasinghe questioned why the statement of what he described as the most important person in the case had not been provided and directed the State to disclose it.
The matter has been adjourned to 9th July for plea.
