Justice of the Peace John Whitta presided over several court matters at the Criminal Court in Avarua yesterday.

Fiji national Ravineel Kaushik has been excused from the Court due to medical reasons and had his case adjourned to May 15.

Defence lawyer Mona Ioane filed a memorandum, stating that Kaushik was still in Fiji. He was granted permission to travel to Fiji in November last year and was expected to return in December 2024.

However, Ioane said that, due to an injury he sustained in Rarotonga, the accused, who is charged with careless driving, is now receiving medical treatment in Fiji.

He asked JP Whitta for a period of six months leave on the matter and a medical report on the accused’s conditions would be provided every month.

-----------

A man whose name is under interim suppression had admitted to the charges of breaching police safety order and assaulting a female.

The accused had gone through a successful police diversion, however, JP Whitta advised defence counsel Norman George that the accused would still need to enter a plea and the sentencing would be in his favour.

He advised that written submissions for sentencing are to be made and adjourned the matter to March 3 for sentencing.

-------------------------

Defence counsel Jamie Crawford will file an appeal within 21 days for name suppression for her client, who is facing a charge of common assault.

This comes after JP Whitta ruled against continued name suppression for the accused, arguing that the charges she faces no longer necessitate protecting the complainant’s identity, and the complainant is not a child.

The JP said interim name suppression was not necessary.

Meanwhile, Crawford also told the court that the accused completed her counselling through the police diversion programme.

The lawyer said she understood that once diversion was completed, the charges would be withdrawn.

However, JP Whitta said the diversion programme was not legislated, but is useful and taken on board for sentencing.

The matter has been adjourned to March 31.

---------------

Putere and Maara Dean, who each face a charge of receiving, will be sentenced on April 16.

Guilty pleas were entered for both the accused through defence counsel Mark Short. Probation reports were ordered.