A man who was recently sentenced for assaulting a female has been charged and remanded in custody for a similar offence.

Semesa Nalalakiwai appeared before Justice of the Peace Vania Kenning at the Criminal Court in Avarua yesterday. He is charged with three counts of assault on a female and breaching his probation.

Defence counsel Michelle Tangimama requested for an adjournment on the matter seeking police disclosures.

Tangimama said her client recently appeared for a similar offence against the same victim.

Police prosecutor, Senior Sergeant Fairoa Tararo, requested that the accused remain in custody and assured the court that all disclosures would be provided to the defence.

The court was also informed about Nalalakiwai’s past probation violation charge. Tangimama stated they would submit a witness letter to Probation Services that would show there was no alcohol consumption.

On February 20 of this year, 33-year-old Nalalakiwai was sentenced by Justice of the Peace Tangi Taoro. The victim’s impact statement revealed threats made by the defendant. The victim claimed he threatened to kill her if he was imprisoned for the assault. However, she also stated her decision to rekindle the relationship based on his participation in counselling and his apparent efforts to improve, which she described as “continues to make small changes every day”.

Nalalakiwai was sentenced to 16 months’ probation, the first six months of which were to be served on community service. He was also ordered to pay $5728.40 in reparations to the victim for damaging her car during a prior assault in Tupapa on June 7, 2023.

During the sentencing, Sergeant Tararo highlighted that this was Nalalakiwai’s second court appearance for similar offences.

The conditions of his previous sentence were not to purchase or consume alcohol, not to enter any liquor licensed premises except for his place of work, to attend counselling and workshops as directed by Probation, and not to leave the Cook Islands without approval from the High Court.

The current case has been adjourned to May 30.