Five men charged with allegedly conspiring to commit robbery and attempted robbery appeared in the Suva Magistrates court this morning.

The first accused Mohammad Nazir Ali is charged with conspiracy to commit robbery, while Tomasi Bulitaiwaluwalu, Volau Kotoisuva, Epi Cama and Mohammad Anuf are charged with conspiracy to robbery and attempted robbery. Two of the accused, Cama and Anuf are also charged with resisting arrest.

Ali, Cama and Anuf pleaded not guilty to the charges against them while the other two accused are yet to take a plea as they did not have legal counsel present.

The court was told by the Police Prosecutor that between May 8th and May 9th the five was conspired to rob a pay clerk of a construction company off $15,000.

While objecting to bail he told Magistrate Aminiasi Katonivualiku that the four were caught at the scene just moments before the robbery and they were armed with pinch bars and cane knives which they allegedly used to try and resist arrest.

Four of the accused persons then alleged that they were assaulted while in police custody and that they needed urgent medical attention. They claimed that they were denied medical attention by Police.

After listening to submissions on bail, Magistrate Katonivualiku raised concerns on whether the men had been taken for medical treatment as they were carrying visible signs of injury.

He granted them bail at a sum of $500 each, told them not to interfere with witnesses, report at the Nasinu Police station three times a week and remain under a daily home curfew from 6pm to 6am.

The case is adjourned till June 23rd for mention.