Kelepi Ranadi was “out of his mind” when he indecently assaulted another man at Hula Bar last year, the court heard yesterday.

At the High Court in Avarua, Ranadi (50) was convicted to 12 months’ probation, spending the first six months on community service for the offence.

In December last year, Ranadi was celebrating his birthday at Hula Bar in Nikao, when he became very drunk.

Ranadi then went into the men’s bathroom and grabbed the victim’s testicles while he was using the toilet. The victim was unknown to Ranadi at the time.

Police were called and the defendant was escorted by the police to the station. At the station Ranadi was uncooperative and was charged with indecent assault which carries a maximum of five years in prison.

Crown lawyer Lisa William said the indecent assault was at a low level and recommended a non-custodial sentence, which was in line with probation’s recommendation.

Judge Judith Potter who sentenced Ranadi appeared via Zoom and said the defendant was not to purchase or consume alcohol while being on probation because the offence happened when he was intoxicated.

"Clearly this man was out of his mind when this occurred,” Judge Potter said.

It was Ranadi’s first appearance in court, a letter from his employer and his cousin he lives with said this type of offending was “totally out of character”.

The court heard the victim described being very embarrassed by the whole incident.