Labasa High Court has refused the stay application made by Shiu Kumar Naidu who has been jointly charged with Mahabir Singh with sixteen counts of extortion.

It is alleged that between 2004 to 2006, Naidu while employed in the Public Works Water and Sewage Department accepted a total of 5082 dollars from various individuals to perform his duties as Supervisor.

Naidu made an application on the grounds this would be prejudice against him as there were delays in laying charges.

He also said that his witnesses, his supervisor and the divisional engineer have passed away and that he does not know the whereabouts of the third witness.

However Judge Justice Priyantha Fernando said that Naidu has failed to satisfy the court as to what evidence those witnesses were going to give and that Naidu has not made any effort to get a speedy trial.

Justice Fernando also said that the application for stay of prosecution was made a few days before the trial date causing further delays and there are no sufficient grounds shown to stay the prosecution.

The trial will now proceed in the Magistrates court.