A man facing more than a dozen charges related to assaults on two partners has been remanded in custody.

Travel Jack Engu appeared in the Criminal Court on Wednesday on multiple counts of assaulting a female.

His lawyer Lavi Rokoika applied for bail with conditions that he not disobey court orders or consume alcohol.

Engu, 34, already facing a raft of charges, was called on six charges, five for assaulting a female and one for contempt.

Rokoika said the defendant and victim did not live together adding bail was justified in that the defendant said he would reappear before the court.

“While the court does not look at the charges lightly, he has a constitutional right to bail.

“He is known to the system; it is up to the discretion of the court; strict bail conditions could be imposed.”

Rokoika also questioned the amount of time her client might be remanded in custody, given the backlog of cases. 

“He might spend too much time in prison while he is awaiting his trial; he should be released so he can obtain legal advice from counsel.”

The Crown opposed bail saying Engu was at risk of further offending, non-compliance and failure to appear in court.

While a bench warrant had been issued on Thursday for his arrest on nine charges he faced in relation to a previous partner, Engu had gone out over the weekend, entered a licenced premises, consumed alcohol and assaulted a different partner.

He was at serious risk of further offending to the new victim or someone else, the Crown said.

The Crown had not been provided any information as to where he would be staying and alcohol was the main issue.

He was now facing 15 charges, 14 of assault on an intimate partner and one of contempt.

A term of imprisonment was inevitable.

The Crown said he would not comply with bail conditions and posed a threat, he did not appear in court on Thursday last week.

Rokoika said she was awaiting disclosure and sought an adjournment to ascertain all the charges.

Justice of the Peace Tangi Taoro remanded Engu in custody and adjourned the matter to December 21.