An accused burglar who has been in custody since December 2023 appeared before Justice of the Peace John Whitta on Thursday and was granted bail.

Tereapii Greg Mose is charged with one count of burglary. He is alleged to have broken into a building in Arorangi with the intention of committing a crime on November 11, 2023.

Through his defense counsel Michelle Tangimama, Mose denied the charge.

Tangimama applied for bail for her client on the grounds that he has been in custody for two months and eight days, his constitutional and human rights need to be considered, and he would reside with his grandmother in Betela, Arorangi, whom he cares for.

She said Mose is also employed, and the court received letters of support from his employer and mother.

Tangimama assured the court that Mose would make it to his April trial and that if he breached any bail conditions, there were ways the court could put him back in prison. However, she maintained that Mose was highly unlikely to reoffend.

In her application for bail, she acknowledged that Mose has a criminal and traffic offence history, including court order contempt and a joint burglary matter in 2020 for which he served approximately two years.

JP Whitta adjourned the matter to April 24 for a defendant hearing with the following bail conditions: surrender any passport he possesses, refrain from applying for a passport, have no contact with the witnesses or complainants, observe a curfew from 7pm to 7am, and reside with his grandmother.