The two senior police officers charged with allegedly trying to remove Police Commissioner Commodore Esala Teleni from office have been further remanded in custody by Suva Magistrates court this afternoon.
Former Police Directors of Intelligence Special Branch, Rusiate Tuidravu and Berenando Kolinio are charged with allegedly conspiring to commit a felony, namely mutiny.
When the case was called this afternoon, the DPP Aca Rayawa reiterated to the Magistrate Kaweendra Nayankara that the two officers should be remanded in custody for their own safety until the matter goes to trial.
Tuidravu's lawyer Rajendra Chaudhry informed the court that he needs time to consult his client on certain matters as he only took up the case on Friday.
However, Chaudhry said his client has instructed him to raise some concerns.
Chaudhry alleged that his client was not given breakfast at the holding cell at CPS and that no one is allowed to visit his client not even his immediate family.
Chaudhry said another concern of his client is that Tuidravu requires a medical examination as is normal procedure when someone is held in custody for a number of days.
Daveta's Lawyer Mehboob Raza stood up and said that irony is that the refusal by the authorities to allow family members to visit remand prisoners when they are taken to Korovou, the right for visitations is done daily.
He stressed that his client is not convicted and must be accorded this privilege and that it is a mockery not only to individual but also to the legal system when someone is not allowed visitation rights.
Raza also stressed that he is airing the views and concerns of his client not out of sympathy or favor but because the security of the state and respect has now gone down to the security of individuals which must be maintained.
Magistrate Nayankara remanded the two in custody until June 4th when the case is expected to be transferred to the high court.
The two officers are alleged to have conspired between the 15th October 2009 to January 2010 to remove Police Commissioner Commodore Esala Teleni from office and pleaded not guilty when they appeared in court on Friday.
