Former Acting Fiji Corrections Service Commissioner, Sevuloni Naucukidi, has been acquitted of a criminal intimidation charge by Magistrate Shageeth Somaratne this afternoon.
Naucukidi was charged with one count of criminal intimidation after allegedly threatening a member of his support staff in July last year.
Principal Legal Officer for the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions, Sadaf Shameem filed a withdrawal of the charge yesterday after the complainant indicated to reconcile.
Magistrate Somaratne questioned why the case was being withdrawn.
Shameem says she had been informed that Naucukidi had indirectly approached the complainant, as they are family friends, to seek reconciliation.
However, Magistrate Somaratne raised concerns that this could amount to interference with a State witness.
He also asked whether there was any possibility of the accused being recharged, to which Shameem responded that the likelihood was slim.
Magistrate Somaratne says he wants to ensure that the application for withdrawal is genuine.
Defence lawyer Barbara Malimali clarified that her client did not indirectly approach the complainant.
In her submissions, Malimali highlighted that the Magistrate should exercise his discretion under Section 163(2)(b)(i) of the Criminal Procedure Act 2009 to acquit her client, rather than discharge him.
She says Naucukidi had lost his job, faced embarrassment, and was at risk of losing his home, which is under mortgage.
